So, it sounds like the flowers bloom yellow but then fade to white in about a day or two. However, it is also a prolific bloomer, so it continuously produces yellow flowers, which fade quickly to white. So what you end up getting is this rose shrub that appears to be covered in yellow, light yellow and white flowers, pretty much like the photo below. I certainly wouldn't call it "trash" like the local nursery owner did when talking to Prettypetals. (It sounds like he was trying to hard-sell what he had in stock and that wasn't the Sunny Knockout rose.) At any rate, it is still a beautiful rose plant and will still work in the right setting just like any other plant. Lets' see...fragrant and prolific blooms, drought, heat cold, disease, and insect tolerant; sounds like a winner to me. I will be planting my Sunny KO Rose near a Diablo Ninebark. The light colored blooms on the Sunny KO Rose and dark foliage of the Diablo Ninebark should contrast nicely.

How about a couple of ornamental trees that bloom, like vitex? That's what I used and they grow quickly but want regular trimming. Under them I was able grow almost anything that didn't require dense shade. Japanese maples are also good as well as butterfly (buddleia) bushes. The vitex didn't mind me planting right up to about 6" from the multi-trunk and by hottest part of summer it had developed a broad and arching canopy of growth. For immediate remedy for this spring bloom of the astilbe why don't you just buy a potted , leafy evergreen tree and set it among the astilbe . Something like a euonymous or leucothoe. You can plant it later when you've move the astilbe to a north or east facing bright light but not direct sun area. Tuck in some Bloody Crane geraniums. Some iris might be nice. More peonies..different colors. You might want to move your Lenten rose plants when you move the astilbe if you think they'll perform better with indirect light.

When you hava a Mayla, let me know. I have a Perry's Fire Opal that I could probably split this fall or next spring. I also have Pink Grapefruit and Pink Perfection. Glenda

The Miscanthus is behind the daisies which are Anthemis Susannah Mitchell, which is short with small button blossoms. If you can see a little pink on the right, that is a Knock Out Rose next to the Miscanthus, which hasn't had a yellow leaf on it through this dry spell and last year was the last thing blooming in my yard. The Pennisetum Hamlin is very tame and fits right under that BBush. There are a few others that are taller that are nice. Have you seen the pink blossomed 'Karley Rose'? It is just a little larger than the Hamelin. There is also one called Moudry which I think is gorgeous. BTW, here in zone 5/6 I have not seen a seedling from my Pennisetum. I saw a great combo in someone's front yard... Hardy Hibiscus, Shasta Daisies and Joe Pye Weed with Miscanthus gracillimus. It gets huge and probably wouldn't work for you dtd. But the pretty Pink Hardy Hibiscus, with the Joe Pye Weed was eyecatching. Here is that P. Moudry, wish I had room for that! :-) I just love tabs on a browser, don't you? [g] Nandina are very pretty. They have fall color too, right? Bluestem is great and I wish I had room to grow it. I also love Indian Grass which I didn't dare plant so I put it in a pot this year..lol. Not exactly happy there. [g] You know you are talking about prairie plants there dtd! :-) I see from your OP that you mentioned Joe Pye Weed there already that might be staying. I measured my 'Little Joe' just now and it is about to bloom and stands 45" high. First year in, so don't know if it will get larger. I also measured the bed my Butterfly Bush is in and it is 7ft deep at the point the BBush is planted. I did plant it forward, because my neighbor has an evergreen on the other side of the fence that hangs over a good foot and a half. There are about 5 trees right along my fence line behind that whole bed, so that BBush has to deal with dry conditions for sure. I just looked up 'The Blues'...isn't that so pretty! I came across a grass comparison chart in my travels and posted the link below for anyone interested. Here is a link that might be useful: Grasses comparison chart