(Astilbe chinensis 'False Goats Beard')

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False Goats Beard is a tender warm-weather perennial flower that is native to northeast China and Mongolia but can be commonly found growing in open forests, meadows, and along riversides throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 24” and features upright, slender stems, green fern-like foliage, and plume-like pink flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and moths, is used as a cut flower, and is edible!

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  • General Information
  • Germination
  • Seedlings
  • Crop Care
  • Culinary
  • Companion Planting
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Family: Saxifragaceae

Genus: Astilbe

Species: chinensis

Variety: False Goats Beard

Native to: Amur, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Japan, Khabarovsk, Korea, Manchuria, Primorye, Qinghai.

Introduced into: Austria.

Grown as: Perennial
 
Maturity (Blooms): Summer

Light: Light sunlight or moderate shade.

Water: Medium to wet.

Soil Moisture: Medium moisture, well-drained. Dislikes dry soils.

Suitability: Light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. 
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Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, and Moths.

Containers?: Yes. to grow one plant, start with a container with a width of at least 16 inches and a depth of about 12 inches.

Maintenance: Low

Height: 24”
 
Spacing: 12”

Sow Depth: on soil surface
 
USDA Zone: 3-9

Produces: Upright slender stems, green fern-like foliage, and plume-like pink flowers.
Use a loose, soft soil mix, and plant the Astilbe seeds on the surface, pressing them into the soil. Make sure that the soil drains well and is able to keep the flower seeds moist, but not wet, at all times. For the best results, add in a little fertilizer that has a high concentration of nitrogen. Keep the Astilbe plants inside until the seedlings reach about 2 inches in height. 

Sow Indoors: Spring (6-8 weeks before last frost)

Temperature: 65 - 70F

Average Germ Time: 28 - 35 days

Light Required: Yes

Depth: Do not cover

Sowing Rate:10 - 12 seeds per plant

Moisture: Keep moist until germination

Sow Outdoors: Spring
After all danger of frost has passed, transplant your seedlings to a protected, partially shady area of the garden in well amended soil that is loose, nutrient rich, and well draining.
Watering: Your plants will need to be watered deeply (but not overwatered to where the soil becomes soggy) every week, more so during rainless periods of summer. 

Fertilizing: Each spring, you will need to amend your soil with a 1-2" layer of compost to promote new growth and flowering. Add an additional side dressing in early summer.

Trimming & Pruning: To reduce the number of overwintering insects and diseases this variety should be cut to the ground in fall.

Mulching: In spring, you will need to apply a mulch to suppress weeds, and to help maintain moisture to prevent your soil from drying out. 

Dividing & Transplanting: Over time, your plants will spread and they will need to be divided every third year. This is done by digging up the root clump in spring or early fall, and dividing it into 1' sections. Then simply replant and keep watered well.
​Young shoots. 
Japanese and Siberian iris, trilliums, ferns, hostas, cimicifuga, ligularia and annual impatiens.

Suggested Varieties

(Impatiens balsamina 'Camilia Mix')

Camilia Balsam is a sun-loving tender annual flower that is native to India and Southeast Asia but can commonly be found growing in the northeastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 30” and features lance-shaped leaves and small clusters of 2” cup-shaped red, pink, and white colored flowers. This plant can be grown in containers, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to drought, is used as a cut flower, and self-sows!
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