Funnily enough, there's a small one which has very good autumn colour, and I've been debating getting it, for exactly that purpose.
Aruncus aethusifolius..i bought it for the autumn colour. Mine is tiny maybe 6"
Highly recommended.
Quote Beth Chattos web site..... "Produces low clumps of fresh green leaves as finely cut as chervil but with more substance. A forest of wiry flower stems arise 30 cm, carrying tiny astilbe-like heads of small creamy-white flowers in June. By September they are still attractive, with barren heads tinted light chestnut, while seed-bearing heads are dark, shining brown, and foliage develops pink and reddish autumn tints."
@Silver surfer I am starting to have doubts now about my aruncus aethusifolius, as the RHS give ultimate spread as .5 metres. (But that's after 2 to 5 years.) This one has been in the same place for at least ten years, probably more. I took the width of the beech hedge behind it back substantially recently so have given the hedge a good dressing of Growmore for the past two springs, and the aruncus has increased a lot since, unsurprisingly. It does have good autumn colour too. I'll have a closer look at the flowers when they open and maybe that will confirm it's an aruncus and not astilbe? Also, the foliage and stems are soft, not firm as with astilbe.
i have the dwarf form, growing in fairly dense shade. The leaves are very fine cut and rather pretty. the leaves on mine don't colour up in Autumn, maybe too much shade.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
@Silver surfer I am starting to have doubts now about my aruncus aethusifolius, as the RHS give ultimate spread as .5 metres. (But that's after 2 to 5 years.) This one has been in the same place for at least ten years, probably more. I took the width of the beech hedge behind it back substantially recently so have given the hedge a good dressing of Growmore for the past two springs, and the aruncus has increased a lot since, unsurprisingly. It does have good autumn colour too. I'll have a closer look at the flowers when they open and maybe that will confirm it's an aruncus and not astilbe? Also, the foliage and stems are soft, not firm as with astilbe.
The flowers are very short.
I have had my Aruncus aethusifolius several years and it has spread but never gets any taller. Not spectacular...but very cute. Pics below to show the short upright flower stalks. It is in the open along side the path....soil just average. Not moist /or boggy.
Thanks @Silver surfer, I'm pretty sure again now that mine is the aruncus. I think it must have been the Growmore that gave it such a boost these past two years. The soil there can be moist but of course the beech hedge roots take up a fair amount in the growing season. But generally it's not a dry spot.
If its any help I will attach photos of Aruncus diocus and Aruncus aethusifolius taken today. Both plants i planted about 6 years old. Growing in improved clay. A. dioicus seeds gently about the place.
Thank you @Kate 7 I think because of the size of my a.aethusifolius I was beginning to wonder if it was in fact an astilbe, but realise now it's not -- it's just grown!
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Mine is tiny maybe 6"
Highly recommended.
Quote Beth Chattos web site.....
"Produces low clumps of fresh green leaves as finely cut as chervil but with more substance. A forest of wiry flower stems arise 30 cm, carrying tiny astilbe-like heads of small creamy-white flowers in June. By September they are still attractive, with barren heads tinted light chestnut, while seed-bearing heads are dark, shining brown, and foliage develops pink and reddish autumn tints."
This one has been in the same place for at least ten years, probably more.
I took the width of the beech hedge behind it back substantially recently so have given the hedge a good dressing of Growmore for the past two springs, and the aruncus has increased a lot since, unsurprisingly. It does have good autumn colour too.
I'll have a closer look at the flowers when they open and maybe that will confirm it's an aruncus and not astilbe?
Also, the foliage and stems are soft, not firm as with astilbe.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
I have had my Aruncus aethusifolius several years and it has spread but never gets any taller. Not spectacular...but very cute.
Pics below to show the short upright flower stalks.
It is in the open along side the path....soil just average. Not moist /or boggy.
The soil there can be moist but of course the beech hedge roots take up a fair amount in the growing season. But generally it's not a dry spot.
I think because of the size of my a.aethusifolius I was beginning to wonder if it was in fact an astilbe, but realise now it's not -- it's just grown!