Some garden flowers scream for attention: “Look at me, look at me, I’m just gorgeous,” they shout. And yes they are gorgeous but only if their growing conditions are perfect. Give them a week of rain and wind and they will collapse into a pile of mush.

That can’t be said about this week’s garden favourite. Astilbes go about their business quietly, discretely and to great effect. They are non-invasive and grow in nice-sized clumps about thigh high and taller depending on variety. The clumps are dense and can block out most weeks. Slugs and snails ignore them.

Astilbes come in shades of white, pink, scarlet and purple. The flowers are tiny but there’s lots of them. They emerge out of a mass of glossy fern like foliage. At this time of year they are past their peak flowering season, but nonetheless if left alone the flower heads will hold their shape and provide interest right through to spring. There’s no need to clip them back until spring growth kicks in again.

Astilbes grow as rhizomes and are easily propagated by division. This can be done in autumn or spring. They like good, humus soil veering on damp. They are best grown in partial shade as strong sun can burn the leaves. They will also grow in full shade but won’t flower as profusely.

Good varieties include the dark red Astilbe arendsii Fanal (see photo) which has an RHS Award of Garden Merit and Astilbe younique Silver Pink. You can also get low-sized astilbies, suitable for growing in rockeries. Look out for them in good garden centres.