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Astilbe Straussenfeder is a bright garden plant that can increasingly be found in garden plots. Seedlings are used in landscape design: they are planted in suburban areas, in city squares, on the territory of government agencies and private companies.
Description of Astilbe Straussenfeder
Astilbe Straussenfeder (ostrich feathers) belongs to the Saxifraga family. The culture appeared in Russia in the 19th century; East Asia, Japan and Singapore are called its homeland. According to the description, Astilbe Thunberg Straussenfeder is a spreading, profusely flowering bush, the dimensions of which reach 120 cm in height and 1 m in diameter. It grows quickly in one season, throwing out many shoots. The leaves have a serrated edge, smooth, carved, complex, double-pinnate, pubescent, covered with brown or pale green hairs. The stems and cuttings of Astilbe Straussenfeder are colored brown-red or pinkish.
Growing conditions: sparse shade.
At noon the bush should not be in the open sun
Astilbe Straussenfeder (pictured) is frost-resistant and tolerates the middle zone climate well.It is recommended to plant it in the south of Russia, but the flower also feels great in the Moscow region.
Features of flowering
Astilbe Straussenfeder blooms in the second half of summer. The flowering period is long - about 40 days. The inflorescences are bright pink or coral, drooping, collected in large panicles up to 30 cm long and about 10 cm wide, consisting of many small flowers. When exposed to the sun, the crop blooms more luxuriantly and abundantly. After the panicles wither, seed pods appear.
Application in design
Due to its unusual appearance and bright flowers, Astilbe Thunberg Straussenfeder has gained wide popularity not only among amateur gardeners. It is planted in public gardens and decorates the territories of hotels, inns and municipal institutions.
Straussenfeder looks great both in solo planting and in a group with other garden flowering shrubs.
Florists and designers advise placing Straussenfeder astilbes in combination with phlox, hostas, various coniferous shrubs, boxwoods, and carnations. The plant feels best in the sun near artificial ponds. Horsetail, marsh iris, lungwort, and fern are added to the composition. Astilbe Ostrich Feather is unpretentious and will get along well with almost any neighbors in the garden, except roses and rose hips.
Pink inflorescences of Astilbe Straussenfeder create a contrast with yellow and blue flowers
With the help of ostrich feather bushes and flowers of contrasting shades, bright compositions are created
Lush coral flowers look best against the backdrop of dark, abundant greenery of trees: cypress, thuja, juniper, barberry, spirea, hosta.
Several types of astilbe planted together along a path or lattice fence will create a bright mood.
Young astilbe bushes feel good in pots, tubs and flowerpots
You can decorate the porch or decorate the veranda with tub plants.
Reproduction methods
Straussenfeder is propagated in various ways:
- Dividing the bush. When the snow begins to melt, in the first weeks of March, an adult bush is dug up completely, cleared of soil and divided into parts using garden shears.Important! Each part must have at least three fresh buds. Old roots are cut off. The parts are planted in a row at a distance of 30-40 cm.
- Cuttings. The bush that is planned to be taken for cuttings is prepared in advance. It is not pruned in the spring. In June, young cuttings with part of the root (with the heel) are carefully separated with a knife. Remove all side leaves. The bottom of the cuttings is sprinkled with fertilizer to accelerate growth and planted in covered greenhouses or seedling tubs at intervals of 10 cm. Care consists of periodic spraying and watering. After 2-3 weeks, the cuttings sprout fresh roots and leaves, and are ready to be planted in a permanent location. In 1-2 years, the young Actilba Straussenfeder will already bloom.
With proper care, Astilbe Straussenfeder will bloom in the first year of planting.
- Growing from seeds. This is the most difficult and unpopular way. Seeds do not retain parental varietal characteristics.
Landing algorithm
Spring is the best time to plant Straussenfeder astilbe. During this period, there is a lot of moisture in the soil, which has a beneficial effect on the development of seedlings.
The planting site should be illuminated by the sun so that during the hottest period the plant is in the shade. The soil is moist, loamy, astilbe Straussenfeder loves a high groundwater level. The optimal place for planting is the shore of an artificial reservoir.
Planting technology:
- For seedlings, dig holes measuring 25x30x30. If you need to plant several plants, the holes are made at a distance of 30-40 cm from each other;
- A mixture of fertilizers is added to the hole: complex fertilizer for garden flowers, ash, humus or compost, bone meal. Everything is mixed with each other. The share of nitrogen fertilizers should not exceed 10%;
- 5-7 liters of water are poured into the hole;
- Before planting, the roots of the Astilbe Straussenfeder seedling are straightened, the plant is placed in a hole, sprinkled with soil and compacted. A layer of mulch made from sawdust, dry leaves or grass is distributed on top.
Astilbe Straussenfeder does not like dryness; in such conditions it will grow slowly
Aftercare
Astilbe thunberg straussenfeder is unpretentious, but requires simple and regular care. Favorable conditions will help the bush bloom profusely and for a long time.
The soil for Straussenfeder should be kept moist all the time. Watering once a day is required; during hot periods, the procedure is carried out in the morning and evening. The soil must not become acidic or waterlogged.
To prevent a crust from appearing, after watering the soil is loosened shallowly.
The astilbe bush is mulched once a month, replacing the old mulch with fresh one. This will keep the soil from overheating, weeds and limit access of pests to the shoots.
In the spring in March, astilbe Straussenfeder is fed with nitrogen fertilizers. Each flower will require 30-40 g of the substance.
Dried inflorescences and leaves are cut off with pruning shears; this will keep the appearance of the Straussenfeder neat.
Preparing for winter
Astilbe Straussenfeder tolerates frosts well (even in the middle zone) and does not need additional shelter. If the bush is young, it will be enough to sprinkle it with a thick layer of mulch in the fall to prevent the buds and roots close to the surface from freezing. In regions with difficult weather conditions, seedlings can be covered with spruce branches, cut cardboard, garden film, and dry leaves.
In autumn, before the first frosts, astilbe Straussenfeder is cut at the root, leaving the above-ground parts no more than 3 cm in height. They are hilled, this is necessary for additional protection of the buds from frost and wind.
Timely pruning in autumn will help Astilbe Straussenfeder produce more shoots in the spring
Also, before wintering, Straussenfeder is fed with potassium and phosphorus fertilizers, 20-30 g per bush.
Diseases and pests
According to the description, ostrich feather astilbe is not very resistant to the following diseases:
- Bacterial spotting manifests itself as blackening of leaves, weakness and dryness of new shoots. A dangerous infection can lead to the death of the entire bush. The pathology is very difficult to cure, so infected astilbe bushes are disposed of;
- Root rot occurs from excessive soil moisture or as a result of mechanical damage to the root system. Control method: watering astilbe Straussenfeder with water with the addition of manganese, and removing rotten roots;
- spotted mosaic appears as spots that can affect both the edges and the entire leaf. It curls, dries and becomes deformed. Spraying the leaves with copper-based preparations will help cope with a dangerous viral disease.
Insects parasitizing on the leaves and stems of Astilbe Straussenfeder cause no less harm:
- The salivary pennie resembles a grasshopper. She surrounds herself and her offspring with sticky foam. Lays eggs on the underside of the Straussenfeder astilbe leaf. The larvae suck the juices from the shoots and gnaw at the young leaves. Spraying is ineffective. Proven method of control: collecting insects by hand and destroying them outside the site;
- nematodes (strawberry, root-knot). They migrate to Astilbe Straussenfeder from other plants and parasitize its roots and lower stems. A sure sign of damage is dry, curled leaves at the base of the bush. If the worms have not yet had time to breed, then the soil is watered with a manganese solution. In other cases, you will have to dig up and burn the plant outside the site. Worms and other pests appear due to excessive soil moisture; just keep an eye on this and they will never bother the Straussenfeder astilbe;
- Aphid colonies can destroy astilbe in one season. As a rule, garden ants settle on flowers along with aphids. Tobacco fumigation saves you from such uninvited guests. Astilbe Straussenfeder tolerates such procedures well. Treat the flower early in the morning in calm and dry weather.
Aphids are the scourge of garden plants; without treatment, pests multiply very quickly
Conclusion
Astilbe Straussenfeder has long been loved by domestic gardeners. With proper care, the plant will decorate any area. It can be used in single and group plantings.
