Astilbe thunbergii 'Professor van der Wielen'

Astilbe thunbergii 'Professor van der Wielen' is an excellent variety of astilbe, elegant and floriferous.  Bending gracefully over its beautiful fern-like foliage, assembled in a light tuft, finely ramified white floral panicles, with a feathery appearance, appear and bloom in summer. This perennial brings a touch of magic to shady, moist areas where it thrives, ideally near water sources. On the terrace, it does well in a large pot kept fresh. Its flowers remain very attractive in dried bouquets.

The 'Professor Van der Wielen' Astilbe is a thunbergii hybrid, and as such, it is a vigorous variety recognized by its fine, trailing inflorescences, which give it a characteristic silhouette. Like all Astilbes, it belongs to the Saxifragaceae family and has Japanese origins. It is a perennial with a rhizomatous stump of beautiful stature, forming a wide, airy tuft from spring onwards, with a flexible habit. It consists of leafy stems. The leaves of this Astilbe are divided into dentate leaflets, with a shiny dark green colour and covered in brown hairs. At maturity, this variety, 'Professor van der Wielen, will reach about 1m (3ft) in height when flowering, and it will spread over 80cm (32in) to 1m (3ft).  Flowering takes place in July-August, more or less early depending on the climate. In autumn, the deciduous foliage takes on pretty reddish or bronze hues. The above-ground vegetation dries up and dies in winter and regrows in spring. 

Astilbe thunbergii 'Professor Van der Wielen' is a preferred inhabitant of humid and semi-shaded areas. It beautifully accompanies ferns, bearded irises, Rodgersias, and obedient plants (Physostegia virginiana) in slightly sunnier exposures near ponds and basins. This plant does not tolerate lack of water, but it can easily be grown in a container with adequate watering, or as an evaporative plant in flower beds or borders. Its flowers are very beautiful in floral arrangements and dried bouquets. In the undergrowth, associate Astilbes with hostas, ferns (Athyrium filix-femina), arums, and meadowsweet (Filipendula) or other waterside perennials.