Astilbe Younique Silvery Pink - False Spirea

Astilbe Younique Silvery Pink is part of a group of recent hybrids selected for their very compact habit, generous and early flowering, disease resistance, and moderate water requirements. Its feathery and triangular plumes of very pale pink flowers bloom abundantly in early summer above a modest but well-furnished tuft of finely cut leaves. This lovely perennial plant charmingly enlivens flowering pots and all partially shaded areas of the garden, in ordinary, moist soil.

Astilbe chinensis, from the saxifrage family, is native to China, Korea, and eastern Siberia. It is a rhizomatous and herbaceous perennial plant that is native to moist and fertile soils, although it is less demanding in terms of water than other species. The Younique series of Astilbes was developed by Dutch hybridizer Jan Verschoor. They also carry genes from the Astilbe japonica, a close relative native to Japan.

Astilbe 'Younique Silvery Pink' slowly forms a small mound of foliage that resembles a fern. This cushion-shaped tuft is composed of a cluster of leafy stems that do not exceed 25 cm (10in) high with a spread of 35 cm (14in). The slightly arching stems bear compound leaves that are divided into 3 toothed, medium, shiny green leaflets. In average climates, 'Silvery Pink' begins flowering between late May and early June and ends in July. It is particularly abundant, almost disproportionate to the foliage, in the form of long, branched feathery plumes made of clusters of tiny flowers. Their pale pink colour is darker in bud and lightens almost to white when they open and towards the end of flowering. It is a deciduous, hardy plant, whose vegetation disappears in winter and re-emerges in spring.

Astilbe 'Younique Silvery Pink' with its small size, delightful pastel cotton candy-like appearance, and abundant, luminous flowering, fits perfectly in a beautiful pot on the terrace, or at the edge of flower beds, with its lovely shade companions such as ferns and Hostas. Its plume-like flowers add a beautiful splash of colour to woodland areas. They brighten north-east facing facades along with Hydrangeas, and lend a unique charm to the surroundings of water features, which serve as their mirror. Planted in swathes, Younique Astilbes highlight shaded paths together with Lilyturf and saxifrages. The ferny foliage contrasts beautifully with that of their opulent neighbours, such as Hostas or rhubarb, while their feathery flowering blends perfectly with persicarias or bugbanes. Younique astilbes tolerate exposure to filtered sunlight and require consistently moist soil; they are hardy and require very little maintenance.