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Astilbe ‘Dark Side of the Moon’, an exceptional dark leaved Astilbe.
- Luminous magenta buds open into dense, feathery pink-purple flower plumes.
- Intense, chocolate-purple foliage forms a heavily ruffled mound of deeply veined leaves with rich red-flushed undertones.
- Easy to grow and robust, provided it is situated in reliably moist, humus-rich soil in partial shade.
The Dark-Leaved Astilbe In Your Garden
Don’t resort to delicate options in damp areas. This striking perennial adds a moody, high-contrast presence to low-light spaces. The fuzzy, jewel-toned flower plumes glow beautifully against the dark canopy. As they fade, the dried flower heads remain upright, providing excellent architectural structure well into winter.
This robust, spectacular new selection is fully hardy in UK gardens. It reaches a tidy 50cm by 50cm size within 2 to 5 years. It brings permanent, rich colour contrast to moisture-rich settings. The dark foliage is heavily ruffled and divided, with crimped edges, forming a dense, detailed mound of lush leaves.
The crowded, heavily textured growth creates a sensational design tool for creative modern layout schemes. Use this dark-leaved Astilbe to offset silver foliage for a sophisticated monochrome effect. Alternatively, it makes yellow and chartreuse foliage jump out. It behaves impeccably, keeping its neat, clump-forming shape without ever running amok.
Did you know?
The common name False Goat’s Beard refers to the fuzzy, plume-like flower spikes. These distinctive structures gracefully mimic the textured, pendulous chin hair of a wild mountain goat.
Growing Tips for Your Dark-Leaved Astilbe
- Soil and Sun: Position in partial shade. It demands reliably moist or boggy soil and absolutely will not tolerate drying out.
- Planting: At any time of year. Never plant a dry perennial; plunge the root ball for 10 minutes first.
- Watering: Water deeply and regularly during its first summer. Maintain consistent moisture levels during hot, dry spells.
- Pruning: Cut old flowering stems and weathered leaves back to the ground in late winter to refresh the mound.
Astilbe is native to the shaded mountain ravines of Asia and North America. Wild varieties possess dull white flowers, but brilliant colourful forms were finally hybridised in the early 1900s. This modern, dark-leaved selection commands attention in low-light spaces where intense colour is rare. A pollinator favourite, it is a spectacular addition to any garden.
