Astilbe arendsii Bressingham Beauty

Astilbe arendsii Bressingham Beauty is a variety of astilbe known for its robustness, vigour, and beautiful flowering. Its bright salmon-pink floral spikes are particularly abundant and visible from a distance in summer. Like all astilbes, the plant has finely cut, dark green leaves, sometimes tinged with bronze. This perennial thrives in partial shade and moist soils, making it ideal for decorating riverbanks and heavy soils that never dry out. 

Astilbe Bressingham Beauty is one of the many hybrids developed by Georg Arends, a German nurseryman. It is a very hardy herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the Saxifragaceae family. It is a tall variety, reaching about 80 cm (32in) in height with a spread of 50 cm (20in). It is best planted in large flowerbeds, surrounded by shade-loving companions such as ferns and Hostas. This rhizomatous plant is deciduous, with foliage emerging in spring and drying up in autumn. It forms an upright clump, consisting of a collection of stems covered with compound, finely cut, and toothed leaves. Flowering occurs in July-August, with plume-like inflorescences composed of numerous small flowers that start off as bright salmon-pink, fading slightly when fully open.  

Planted in a row, astilbes create a beautiful border along shaded paths or around ponds where they reflect in the water. As standalone plants, these perennials provide a striking contrast with lush green neighbours, such as Hostas, Ferns, and Solomon's seals. At the end of the season, leave the dried inflorescences in place to maintain a tall backdrop or remove a few spikes to complement autumnal dried flower arrangements. The flowers are highly attractive in floral compositions and dried bouquets. In woodland settings, combine astilbes with other bog perennials.