Astilboides tabularis
Astilboides tabularis• Click here to visit our Main Plant List page for current availability of this plant
• flowering season: summer
• height: leaves to 3 feet, flowers to 5 feet
• Light requirements: filtered light and/or afternoon shade
• Soil requirements: average to rich, and moist
• Water requirments: greater than an average amount of water
• Growth habit: it runs on the ground moderately, but not invasively
• How to propagate: digging out one of its side shoots in spring or early summer
• Leaf type: light green, roundish and large when full grown
• Ways to use it: it can make a big statement in the right location; grows well in a shady garden or alongside a shady pond or stream
• Special characteristics: an extra amount of food and water during the summer will encourage it to grow big faster
• Other points of interests: every year it seems that a small tree frog claims this plant as its home and can often be seen nestled in the shallow valley in the top, center of one of its leaves -- the tree frog rests motionless, hoping I don't spot her (or him) while she keeps a lookout for any wayward bugs
This used to be named as a Rodgersia. It needs similar care - moister ground than usual and filtered sunlight or afternoon shade. It has a different appearance, having even larger, completely rounded leaves of 2 or 3 feet wide on a full sized plant. Unusual and interesting is how the leaf stem attaches underneath to the very center of the big, round leaf, making the leaf look something like an open umbrella. Taller than the leaves are its clusters of fragrant, white flowers from summer lasting well into fall that resemble the flowers of Astilbe. The foliage will be two to three feet tall, with flower stems from three to five feet tall. Is very striking alongside a pond. Hardy in USDA Zones 5 - 9 in the West and Zones 5 - 7 in the East. Click here for an explanation of this difference between eastern and western hardiness zones on our FAQ page.