Chocolate Shogun Astilbe

Paint your landscape by layering in the bold tones and shapes of perennials. Their beautiful flowers set the stage for fun times with family and friends all season long.

One of the showiest selections is the Chocolate Shogun Astilbe PP #26,430 (Astilbe thunbergii 'Chocolate Shogun'). Deep, bronzy purple foliage is finely dissected and adds both a soft texture and intense color all season.

Starting in summer, tall spires of plume-like blooms start developing above the dramatic foliage display. Each is composed of many hundreds of tiny flowers, which support the nectar needs of local butterflies and beneficial pollinators.

The buds start off a bright pink, but open white. The high contrast between the basal clump of dark purple-brown leaves and the pristine flowers jumpstart a dynamic early summertime show. Let the erect blooms open fully on the plant, then snip a few for long-lasting indoor cut flower arrangements. Allow them to dry for a long-lasting dried arrangement all winter, then start over afresh with next year's blooms!

This cold-hardy selection is a steadfast perennial. It will perform beautifully for you year after year with proper care. Hardy, deer-resistant, and easy to grow throughout USDA planting zones 4 to 8! No wonder this is such a popular plant!

Landscape Application:

Tuck one or more Chocolate Shogun Astilbe at the base of a special specimen tree or shrub. Their exquisite coloration will call even more attention to your Rising Sun Flowering Dogwood or specialty Weeping evergreen tree. Partner them with blue-toned Hosta or Silver Heart Brunnera in a shady setting.

The deeply pigmented foliage works well in perennial borders. Add a solid edging row to your planting, or repeat them in tiny "vignettes" along the length of the bed. Use several of these dark foliage perennials to create an easy masterpiece in your outdoor living.

Enliven a sideyard with their help. Go ahead and make a larger-than-life statement with a mass planting under the broad canopy of trees or large shrubs! Boost the visual performance of hedging shrubs and perennials by underplanting with Chocolate Shogun. Span the length of your hedge with their charming flowers and foliage.

Rather than a single row, try a curving drift for an unforgettable picture. Space them 1, 2, 3, or even 4 deep between 15 to 24 inches apart, measuring from the center of one to the center of the next.

Let your creativity come into play! Chocolate Shogun Astilbe is sure to inspire you!

• Lacy Pink Flower Plumes Held High on Reddish Stems
• Incredibly Dark Purple Foliage
• Long Lasting Cut Flowers Or Dried Arrangements
• Butterflies Adore the Nectar & Hummingbird-Friendly
• Gorgeous Accents, Edging, Container Thrillers & Mass Planting

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Plant them in full sun in the northern areas. Baby it with a consistent schedule of water for good results. Otherwise, in areas with hot summers, provide partial shade. They do need at least four hours of sunlight a day to keep their best vigor and flower color.

Rich, well-drained soil that has plenty of humus and organic material is best. When planting, add handfuls of compost to the backfill soil. Give your plant a life-long symbiotic partner with Nature Hills Root Booster beneficial soil additive. The time-tested ingredients support the tiny feeder roots in their quest for moisture and micronutrients. Mulch over their roots, pulling them well away from touching the crown of the plant.

Avoid using nitrogen-rich lawn fertilizer formulas nearby. They will reduce blooms and support leaves. Rather, use a slow-release fertilizer for flowering plants according to the directions.

• Best Grown In Partial Shade But Handles Full Sun
• Cold Hardy & Widely Adaptable
• Moisture Loving
• Prune In Early Spring
• Cold Tolerant Herbaceous Perennial
• Deer & Rabbit Resistant

Decorate your landscape the way the pros do! You'll be so proud of this superb choice. Order Chocolate Shogun Astilbe today from NatureHills.com and enjoy your new quality landscaping delivered to your doorstep!