Very dwarf Astilbe

[John85]

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

[Maggi Young]

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.

[Will Itsell]

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.

[John85]

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?

[David Nicholson]

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".

[Will Itsell]

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.

[John85]

You found it !Thank you.
A. simplicifolia Xglaberrima saxosa it was.

[Will Itsell]

Happy to help. 

I have never thrown out a plant catalogue.