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Astilba Straussenfeder is a vibrant garden plant that can increasingly be found in personal plots. Saplings are used in landscape design: they are planted in suburban areas, in city squares, on the territory of government agencies and private firms.
Description of Astilbe Straussenfeder
Astilba Straussenfeder (ostrich feathers) belongs to the saxifrage family. The culture appeared in Russia in the 19th century; East Asia, Japan and Singapore are called its homeland. According to the description, astilba Thunberg Straussenfeder is a sprawling, profusely flowering shrub, the dimensions of which reach 120 cm in height and 1 m in diameter. It grows rapidly in one season, throwing out many shoots. Leaves with a toothed margin, smooth, carved, complex, double-feathery, pubescent, covered with brown or pale green hairs. The stems and cuttings of the Straussenfeder astilbe are colored brownish red or pinkish.
Growing conditions: sparse shade.
At noon, the bush should not be in the open sun.
Astilba Straussenfeder (pictured) is frost-resistant, tolerates the climate of the middle zone well. It is recommended to plant it in the south of Russia, but the flower feels great in the Moscow region.
Flowering features
Astilba Straussenfeder blooms in the second half of summer. The flowering period is long - about 40 days. Inflorescences are bright pink or coral, drooping, collected in large brush-panicles up to 30 cm long and about 10 cm wide, consisting of many small flowers. When the sun hits, the culture blooms more magnificently and more abundantly. After wilting of panicles, seed pods appear.
Application in design
For its unusual appearance and bright flowers astilbe Thunberg Straussenfeder gained wide popularity not only among amateur gardeners. It is planted in parks-squares, decorate the territory of hotels, hotels 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 astilbe in combination with phlox, hosts, various coniferous shrubs, box trees, carnations. The plant feels best in the sun near artificial reservoirs. Horsetail, marsh iris, lungwort, fern are added to the composition. Astilba Ostrich feather is unpretentious and will get along well with almost any neighbors in the garden, except for roses and rose hips.
The pink inflorescences of Astilba Straussenfeder contrast with the yellow and blue flowers.
With the help of bushes of "ostrich feather" and flowers of contrasting shades make up bright compositions
Lush coral flowers look more advantageous against the background of dark abundant green trees: cypress, thuja, juniper, barberry, spirea, hosts.
Several types of astilba planted together along a path or lattice fence will create a bright mood.
Young astilbe bushes thrive 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:
- Division of the bush. When the snow begins to melt, in the first weeks of March, an adult bush is completely dug up, cleared of the ground and divided into parts using garden shears.Important! Each piece must have at least three fresh buds. The old roots are cut off. Parts are planted in a row at a distance of 30-40 cm.
- Cuttings. The bush, which is planned to be used for cuttings, is prepared in advance. In the spring it is not pruned. In June, young cuttings with a part of the root (with a heel) are carefully separated with a knife. All side leaves are removed. 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 in periodic spraying, watering. After 2-3 weeks, the cuttings put out fresh roots and leaves, and are ready for planting at a permanent place of residence. In 1-2 years, the young Aktilba 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. The seeds do not retain their parental varietal characteristics.
Landing algorithm
Spring is the best time to plant astilba Straussenfeder. During this period, there is a lot of moisture in the soil, which favorably affects 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 high groundwater levels. The optimal landing site is the shore of an artificial reservoir.
Landing technology:
- for seedlings, dig holes with dimensions of 25x30x30. If you need to plant several plants, pits are made at a distance of 30-40 cm from each other;
- a mixture of fertilizers is introduced into the hole: complex fertilizing for garden flowers, ash, humus or compost, bone meal. Everyone mixes 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 astilba seedling Straussenfeder are straightened, the plant is placed in a hole, sprinkled with soil and tamped. A layer of mulch from sawdust, dry leaves or grass is spread on top.
Astilba Straussenfeder does not like dryness, in such conditions it will grow slowly
Follow-up care
Astilba Thunberg straussenfeder is unpretentious, but requires simple and regular maintenance. Favorable conditions will help the bush to bloom profusely and for a long time.
The soil for the Straussenfeder must be moist at all times. Watering once a day is required; during hot periods, the procedure is carried out in the morning and in the evening. Souring and waterlogging of the soil should not be allowed.
So that a crust does not appear, after watering the soil is shallowly loosened.
Astilba bush mulch once a month, replacing the old mulch with fresh one. This will keep the soil from overheating, weeds and limit the access of pests to the shoots.
In the spring of March, astilbe Straussenfeder is fed with nitrogen fertilizers. Each flower will require 30-40 g of the substance.
Dried buds and leaves are cut with pruning shears to keep the Straussenfeder looking neat.
Preparing for winter
Astilba Straussenfeder tolerates frosts well (even in the middle lane) 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 so that the buds and roots close to the surface do not freeze. In regions with difficult weather conditions, seedlings can be covered with spruce branches, cut cardboard, garden film, dry foliage.
In the fall, before the first frosts, the Straussenfeder astilbe 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.
Pruning in autumn will help Astilbe Straussenfeder to release more shoots in the spring.
Also, before wintering, Straussenfeder is fed with potash and phosphorus fertilizers, 20-30 g per bush.
Diseases and pests
According to the description, astilba ostrich feathers are not very resistant to the following diseases:
- bacterial spot is manifested as blackening of leaves, weakness and dryness of new shoots. A dangerous infection can lead to the death of an entire bush. The pathology is very difficult to cure, therefore, astilbe bushes get rid of infected bushes;
- root rot appears from excessive soil moisture or as a result of mechanical damage to the root system. Control method: watering astilba Straussenfeder with water with the addition of manganese, and removing rotten roots;
- spotted mosaic is manifested by spots that can affect both the edges and the entire leaf. It curls, dries and deforms. Spraying the leaves with copper-based preparations will help to cope with a dangerous viral disease.
No less harm is caused by insects parasitizing on the leaves and stems of the Straussenfeder astilbe:
- the salivating penny resembles a grasshopper. She surrounds herself and her offspring with sticky foam. Lays eggs on the back of Straussenfeder's astilba leaf. The larvae suck the juices from the shoots and gnaw at the young leaves. Spraying is ineffective. Proven method of control: collection of insects by hand and destruction outside the site;
- nematodes (strawberry, gallic). They move to astilba Straussenfeder from other plants and parasitize on its roots and lower stems. A sure sign of damage is dry, twisted 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 start up due to excessive soil moisture, it is enough to monitor this and they will never disturb the astilba Straussenfeder;
- aphid colonies in one season can destroy astilbe. As a rule, garden ants settle on flowers along with aphids. Tobacco fumigation saves from such uninvited guests. Astilba Straussenfeder tolerates such procedures well. The flower is processed in the early morning in calm and dry weather.
Aphids are the scourge of garden plants, without treatment, pests reproduce very quickly
Conclusion
Astilba Straussenfeder has long been loved by domestic gardeners. With proper care, the plant will adorn any area. It can be used in single and group plantings.
