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Astilba Amethyst is a perennial herbaceous crop from the Saxifrage family. A plant with openwork leaves is very popular with gardeners. The amethyst shimmer of astilba and inflorescences of extraordinary beauty can become an adornment of any garden plot or greenhouse.
Description of Astilba Amethyst
Astilba Arendsa Amethyst is a perennial shrub with complex trifoliate yellow-green leaves.
Adult specimens reach 1 m in height
Astilbe Amethyst prefers areas with partial shade, as excess sunlight can adversely affect growth rates. The culture does not tolerate stagnant moisture and groundwater. The abundance of liquid leads to the decay of the root system.
Features of flowering
Astilbe Amethyst is the owner of paniculate purple-pink or lilac inflorescences, the size of which varies between 18-31 cm. In light sepal inflorescences, a beautiful pink frame can be observed. Astilbe Amethyst has a long flowering that begins in July and lasts until the end of August. The fruits are oil capsules, inside which are small seeds. Under natural conditions, they ripen at the end of summer or in the first half of September. The peduncle develops only in the second year after planting the seedling in the ground.
Application in design
Astilbe Amethyst is a common ornamental plant found in gardens, parks and greenhouses.
Astilba, located near the open-air table, will help create a peaceful atmosphere in the country house.
Astilba is used to create mixorders in combination with aquilegia, phlox and lily
mixborders
Astilba Amethyst looks great next to bergenia, hostas and other evergreen shrubs
Astilba is used to create mixborders in combination with aquilegia, phlox and lily
mixborders
Astilba Amethyst looks great next to bergenia, hostas and other evergreen shrubs
Neighborhood with hyacinth, crocus, snowdrop, tulip, daffodil and other representatives of bulbous crops is considered favorable.
Perennial plant looks very good on the coast of the pond
Methods of reproduction
The best method of propagation of Astilba Amethyst is the division of the bush. The procedure is performed according to the following algorithm:
- The roots are carefully removed from the ground and divided into several parts.
The division is carried out quickly so that the roots do not have time to dry out.
- The cut area is treated with crushed coal or garden grease.
- For the best adaptation of the astilbe root system, you need: moistened soil, regular loosening of the soil and watering.
To accelerate growth, stimulants and other additives are used. The preferred period for dividing the rhizomes of Astilba Amethyst is the beginning of spring. The method of bud division provides a good survival rate. It starts with the appearance of the first kidneys. Astilba cuttings are cut and planted in a warm place (in a greenhouse or greenhouse) in soil richly saturated with water. A mixture of soil with the addition of gravel and sand is considered optimal. A kidney with a rhizome must be covered with a plastic film. Propagation of Astilba Amethyst by seeds requires a lot of effort and is lengthy and ineffective, so this method is practically not used by gardeners.
Landing algorithm
The main factor by which the survival rate of a culture is determined is high-quality planting material. It is not recommended to purchase Astilba Amethyst seedlings from unverified sellers. It is necessary to carefully examine each rhizome, on which dried and rotten areas should be completely absent. During storage, the root system is periodically moistened. Drying is equally detrimental to the plant, as is excessive moisture. The algorithm for planting astilba Amethyst is as follows:
- The first step is to prepare a planting hole for the size of the rhizome.
- The roots should be freely located in the pit; a large astilbe deepening is not required.
- Shortly before planting, it is necessary to fertilize the soil in the form of mineral fertilizers and ash.
- The easiest way to maintain the desired humidity is with a hydrogel. Water the soil before planting.
- Astilbe seedling Amethyst requires mulching.
For powder use bark, wood chips, peat chips
Thanks to mulching materials, it is possible to maintain the desired level of humidity and prevent the roots from drying out.
The end of the autumn planting season falls on mid-September. The preferred period is from mid-May to early June. Keep seedlings in a cool place to prevent premature bud germination. If the seedling has pale, thin and long shoots, it has every chance to take root, but only if its root system has not rotted and dried out.
Astilba Amethyst easily tolerates maintenance at home between the acquisition of seedlings and their planting in the ground. The basement is perfect for storage, the temperature in which is close to zero. Astilba seedlings are placed in plastic containers with a sufficient number of ventilation holes. Moistened substrate, sawdust, coconut fiber, lightweight soil and moss are added to the containers. In the case of planting a group consisting of Astilba Amethyst perennials, it is necessary to maintain a distance of about 50 cm between them.
Rhizomes with awakened buds and sprouts can be transplanted into flower pots and placed on the windowsill. Seedlings require periodic watering. Waterlogging is detrimental to the plant. For planting astilbe Amethyst, loamy soils with acidity in the range of 5,5-6 pH are excellent. High air humidity and proximity to groundwater have a positive effect on development.
Aftercare
Astilbe Amethyst is a culture that does not require increased attention and special care.
A drainage cushion made of expanded clay, small gravel and peat avoids waterlogging.
As the seedlings develop, mulching should be performed. Thanks to timely watering and soil care, you can achieve high growth rates, abundant and long flowering, as well as prevent diseases and rid the crop of pests. As you grow, you need to prune dead leaves and old inflorescences.
Astilba Amethyst is a perennial crop that requires periodic top dressing. In early spring, she needs fertilizers with a predominance of nitrogen. They feed the soil and increase the strength and strength of the culture. With the help of additives, the process of plant recovery after the winter period is facilitated, and the rate of green mass recruitment is increased. Top dressing with potash and phosphorus fertilizers allows you to make the inflorescences of astilbe Amethyst brighter and more lush. To strengthen the stems and increase the plant’s resistance to stress, humus and special preparations are used.
During the dry season, the plant needs watering, which is carried out every other day. The first fertilizers in the form of mineral dressings are applied to the soil in the spring after the snow begins to melt. When the flowering process is completed and the flower stalks are dry, they can be left in place, because even when dried, they have a stunning appearance.
Timely top dressing with fertilizers is necessary to obtain high-quality seeds required for the propagation of astilbe Amethyst
Preparation for winter
Creating a protective layer of crushed stone and peat allows you to maintain the required level of humidity and prevent the root system from freezing in winter. For 12 months, the culture adds up to 5,5 cm in growth, so it is necessary to increase the bedding layer by 2,5-3 cm annually. Before the onset of cold weather, the aerial part of the plant needs pruning and creating a shelter from a plastic film. Additional protection can be made from coniferous spruce branches or vegetable tops.
Preparation for the winter of a young astilba bush Amethyst begins in the summer. The peduncle is disposed of immediately after its isolation. Until the onset of cold weather, the area around the shrub should be periodically weeded and weeds removed. When loosening the topsoil, care must be taken so as not to damage the young root system of Astilba Amethyst.
Diseases and pests
Astilba Arendsa Amethyst is a plant that is highly resistant to diseases and pests. The danger for the shrub is the cicada (common saliva), attacking it from the beginning of summer to mid-September. It is almost impossible to get rid of it with the help of special preparations and means. You have to deal with the pest manually. Another parasite that poses a threat to the crop is the roundworm, the root-knot nematode. It is impossible to cope with the pest, therefore, the complete destruction of the bush is required.
Experts recommend removing a small layer of soil in the place where the infected shrub grew.
Conclusion
Astilba Amethyst does not require pruning of the crown, which is formed independently. Seedlings need to be transplanted to another place after 5-6 years. It is necessary to get rid of dried leaves and flower arrows in time, as they inhibit the development of the shrub.