Horsford Gardens & Nursery

Astilbe chinensis 'Milk and Honey' False Spirea

ZONE 4-9, HT 30", PT SUN/SHADE
This fragrant astilbe blooms mid to late summer after most of the other astilbe have already gone by. Its creamy white plumes turn light pink as the plant matures.

Astilbe chinensis 'Pumila'
Dwarf Chinese Astilbe

ZONE 4-9, HT 12", PART SUN
Sturdy spikes produce raspberry sherbet plumes in August and September. Makes a good groundcover and is somewhat drought resistant.

Astilbe chinensis 'Purple Candles'
Chinese Astilbe

ZONE 4-9, HT 36", PART SUN/SHADE
Tall, dense spikes of reddish-purple spring forth in August above dramatic, green foliage. One of the latest astilbes to bloom.

Astilbe chinensis 'Vision'
Chinese Astilbe

ZONE 4-8, HT 15", PART SUN/SHADE
Dense, upright, rose-mauve flower plumes rise above bronze-green foliage that is more sun tolerant than most astilbes. The mid summer blooms make good cut and dried flowers and are deer and rabbit resistant.

Astilbe 'Elizabeth'
Plume Flower

HT 28", FULL/PART SUN
Beautiful raspberry plumes in early to mid-July.

Astilbe x arendsii 'Bressingham Beauty'
False Spirea

ZONES 4-8, HT 40", PART SUN
Dense, fern-like foliage and arching, rose-colored spires in early summer. Works well at the back of the shade garden.

Astilbe x arendsii 'Bridal Veil'
False Spirea

ZONE 4-9, HT 2-4', PART SUN
Fragrant white plumes with dark green foliage. Moist soil; early to mid-summer bloom.

Astilbe x arendsii 'Cattleya'
False Spirea

ZONE 4-9, HT 40", PART SUN
Tall, loose plumes of clear, bright pink in mid summer add an elegant look to your garden. The attractive green foliage has a hint of red. Prefers moist soil.

Astilbe x arendsii 'Erica'
False Spirea

ZONES 4-9, HT 30", PART SUN/SHADE
Long, slender, compact trusses are a delicate pink. Blooms midseason.

Astilbe x arendsii 'Fanal'
False Spirea

ZONE 4-9, HT 24", PART SUN
Vivid dark red plumes in late June and early July atop bronze foliage. Moist soil.

Astilbe x hybrida 'Etna'
False Spirea

ZONE 4-8, HT 18", PART SUN
Dense, dark red flower spikes and deep green, glossy leaves. Blooms in early summer.

Astilbe x japonica 'Deutschland'
False Spirea

ZONE 4-9, HT 2', PART SUN
A compact grower that prefers moist soils and has the best early white blooms.

Astilbe x japonica 'Elizabeth van Veen'
False Spirea

ZONE 4-9, HT 28", SUN/PART SUN Fertile, moist soil produces vibrant raspberry-lilac spikes in July-August. The lush mid-green foliage has a hint of red.

Astilbe x japonica 'Peach Blossom'
False Spirea

ZONE 4-9, HT 24", PART SUN
A cross between Astilbe chinensis and Astilbe japonica produced this lovely shade of light, salmon pink. Blooms in June and July. Moist soil.

Astilbe x japonica 'Rheinland'
False Spirea

ZONE 4-8, HT 18", PART SUN
Fragrant rose-pink plumes shoot up in early summer. Pairs well with Astilbe x japonica 'Deutschland'. Moist soil.

Astilbe x japonica 'Vesuvius'
False Spirea

ZONE 3-8, HT 32", PART SUN/SHADE
Like its namesake, it produces dark purplish-red plumes in mid summer over glossy, dark reddish-green leaves.

Astilbe x simplicifolia 'Key Largo'
False Spirea

ZONE 4-9, HT 16-18", SUN/SHADE
Blooms from mid to late summer (one of the longest blooming astilbes) with delicate raspberry pink plumes. The slightly fragrant flowers appear on red stems over attractive shiny green foliage.

Astilbe x simplicifolia 'Sprite'
False Spirea

ZONE 4-9, HT 12", PART SUN
This dwarf astilbe was created in England by the Blooms (the perennial gurus). It displays delicate, fern-like, dark bronze foliage topped with beautiful shell-pink plumes in mid summer. Moist soil.

Astilbe x thunbergii 'Ostrich Plume'
False Spirea

ZONE 4-8, HT 40", PART SUN
This bold plant makes a statement with its beautiful, arching salmon pink plumes in mid summer. Plant with lilium for a spectacular effect.

Astrantia major 'Lars'
Greater Masterwort

ZONE 4-7, HT 24", PART SUN
Wine-red dome shaped flowers are held two feet above the neat mound of basal foliage. This unusual bloom makes a good cut flower. Native of much of Europe and popular in the English garden due to its long bloom period.

Athyrium 'Branford Beauty'
Branford Beauty Fern

ZONE 4-8, HT 12-24", PART SUN/SHADE
A cross between Japanese Painted Fern and Lady Fern with the upright structure of the Lady Fern and the colors of the Japanese Painted Fern with reddish stems. Pair this slowly spreading fern with a purple leaved Cimicifuga for a stunning combo in your shade garden.

Athyrium filix-femina
Lady Fern

ZONE 3-7, HT 18-36", SUN/SHADE
There seem to be several varieties within this species. Lady fern is easy to grow, reaches medium height and has a rich green color. Grow in abundance in full sun along a road or cropping out of rocks in a moist woodland.

Athyrium filix-femina 'Frizelliae'
Tatting Fern

ZONE 4-8, HT 12-18", PART SUN/SHADE
One of the most unusual ferns I've ever seen! It was found in 1857 in Ireland, in the garden of Mrs. Frizell. It has narrow fronds with pinnae reduced to beadlike balls. You've gotta check this one out!

Athyrium filix-femina 'Victoriae'
Victoria Lady Fern

ZONE 4-9, HT 18-24", PART SUN/SHADE
A delicate and unusual fern with pinnae that crisscross to form X's and that have crested leaflet tips. No other fern has this growth pattern. You'll want this clumping fern near the path of your woodland garden so everyone can see it.

Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum'
Japanese Painted Fern

ZONE 3-8, HT 2', SHADE
This fern has done well in our shade display garden. It has silvery green leaves and burgundy stems and likes moist, well-drained soil. It was the 2004 Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year.

Athyrium niponicum pictum 'Applecourt'
Applecourt Japanese Painted Fern

ZONE 3-8, HT 12-24", PT SHADE/SHADE
With its dark red stems and silvery green fronds, this fern is similar to the Japanese painted fern but much fuller. Plant it in the front of your shade garden.

Athyrium x 'Ghost'
Ghost Fern

ZONE 3-8, HT 2-3', PART SUN/SHADE
This cross between Lady Fern and Japanese Painted Fern has resulted in an attractive, upright, clumping fern that will add a ghostly gray-green light to your shade garden. Try it in front of a dark-leaved Cimicifuga or Ligularia to really show it off. Will tolerate dry or moist conditions.

Aubrieta 'Whitewell Gem'
Rock Cress

ZONE 4-8, HT 6", SUN
Another spring beauty that we often mix with blue forget-me-nots and yellow alyssum. Purple-violet flowers are large in relation to the plant and grow in clusters. Needs dry, well drained soil.

Aurinia saxatilis 'Compactum'
Basket of Gold

ZONE 3-7, HT 10", SUN
Formerly known as Alyssum, this plant has the brightest yellow flowers you'll ever see. It prefers to be left alone in a sunny rock garden. Keep it dry and hungry. Pair it, as we do, with Forget-me-nots and pink tulips. Fragrant. Do not cut it back.