Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Plant Identification => Plant Identification Questions and Answers => Topic started by: John85 on June 06, 2012, 03:59:11 PM

Title: Very dwarf Astilbe
Post by: John85 on June 06, 2012, 03:59:11 PM
Many years ago i had a very dwarf astilbe but I cannot remenber its name nor its colour
Help please.
It was not A.chinensis pumila or crispa perkeo nor was it an aruncus aethusifolius
Title: Re: Very dwarf Astilbe
Post by: Maggi Young on June 06, 2012, 05:42:52 PM
I used to grow a couple of Astilbe simplicifolia cultivars that were neat little  things - less than one foot (30cms)
high - your question has  reminded me that I have them no longer.  :'( They were overgrown by larger plants and resented that.
Title: Re: Very dwarf Astilbe
Post by: Will Itsell on June 06, 2012, 07:05:42 PM
I think the two most common A. simplicifolia hybrids are 'Sprite' with very pale pink flowers over dark, bronzed foliage and 'Willie Buchanan' which is very similar but (I think), slightly paler in flower.

Otherwise just as Maggi describes, neat little things, less than a foot tall.

Perhaps the names will ring a bell for you.
Title: Re: Very dwarf Astilbe
Post by: John85 on June 07, 2012, 11:07:10 AM
The plant was smaller than Sprite(about 2/3 ) that I grew also.
I think I bought it at Drake's nursery but it was not Inshriach Pink(that is larger)
Willie Buchanan doesn't ring a bell but it is a nice plant.
The unknown cv was not more than 6"(15cm) high.
Any other suggestions?
Title: Re: Very dwarf Astilbe
Post by: David Nicholson on June 08, 2012, 02:18:29 PM
Astilbe thunbergii?

I've had this one for about three years and it's still no more than about 3" high although I read somewhere that it can grow to 1' 8".

Title: Re: Very dwarf Astilbe
Post by: Will Itsell on June 08, 2012, 07:53:55 PM
Jack Drake's catalogue from 1989 lists:

A. crispa 'Perkeo'. (15cm)

A. Inshriach Pink (30cm)

> simplicifolia x glaberrima saxosa. " .... A mass of frothy pink flesh-white plumes over attractive leaves. Summer. 15cm".

A. Sprite (also listed as 15cm)

Can't offer any more help than that, I'm afraid.
Title: Re: Very dwarf Astilbe
Post by: John85 on June 09, 2012, 09:17:05 AM
You found it !Thank you.
A. simplicifolia Xglaberrima saxosa it was.
Title: Re: Very dwarf Astilbe
Post by: Will Itsell on June 09, 2012, 03:06:28 PM
Happy to help.  :)

I have never thrown out a plant catalogue.  ;)
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