These mean great perennial color for moist shady areas. You can't have too many astilbes.

Who says you can't have perennial color in shade? Of yes you can, and astilbes are one of the top shade perennials for a colorful display under trees or in shady spots in the border.

These neat perennial plants make lovely foliage, and in late spring, send up plume-like flowers in a host of rich glowing colors. Once established, your astilbes will be some of the most dependable perennials in the garden--there every year in deep green spreading perennial clumps. After bloom, they're a snap to divide, so before you know it, you'll have whole waves of color from lots and lots of plants.

Perennial astilbes come in various heights, so a careful planner can put in several levels of them for a multicolor perennial display, as shown in this photo. Along with hostas, these are the perennial plants to create permanent beautiful beds around trees, in front of shaded foundation plants, or in any other moist, shaded spots. Another tip: though most gardeners don't cut them, they also add elegant plumes of color in any cutflower arrangement. Enjoy!