Astilbe ‘Erika’ (Pink) - Feather-Soft Plumes for Pond Edges & Damp Shade (Peat-Free, Pesticide-Free; Non-Native, Garden-Safe)

A graceful, moisture-loving astilbe with soft pink feathery plumes over neat, finely cut foliage. ‘Erika’ lights up early - mid summer in cool, damp ground - perfect for the pond collar, bog-edge or a shady damp border (it’s not aquatic). The plumes attract bees and hoverflies on still, mild days, while the tidy clump gives cover at the rim for amphibians and invertebrates. Expect 45-70 cm in flower; clump-forming and easy to divide to repeat through a border.
Native status: Non-native; garden-safe and well-behaved when kept moist.

Where it thrives

Light: Partial shade to shade (tolerates morning sun if soil stays wet)
Moisture/Zone: Pond collar / bog-edge / damp border; humus-rich mineral loam that never bakes dry; do not submerge
Setting: Drift along shady paths, front/mid bog-edge with ferns, hostas, sedges, water forget-me-not, and purple loosestrife behind

Planting & care

• Plant into peat-free loam improved with leaf-mould/composted bark; mulch annually to lock in moisture

• Water well to establish; keep evenly moist in summer - astilbes sulk if they dry out

• Deadhead for tidy seed-free clumps or leave plumes for texture and winter interest

• Divide clumps every 3-4 years in spring to refresh and spread

• Avoid high-salt feeds and all pesticides

Safety (important & honest):
Ornamental use only - do not ingest. Generally low-risk; wash hands after gardening. Keep plant material and soil out of natural watercourses.

Truth-first wildlife note:
Provides useful nectar when in bloom, but as a non-native it isn’t a larval host. For maximum wildlife value, weave through native nectar plants to carry forage across the season.

Joel says…
“Think feather-soft pink clouds in the cool, damp rim. Keep the roots wet, mulch each spring, and split the clump now and then for more of that glow.”