Chocolate Shogun Astilbe (Astilbe thunbergii ‘Chocolate Shogun’)

• Summertime Bloomer
• Flowers Last and Last
• Lacy Pink Flower Plumes Held High on Reddish Stems
• Incredibly Dark Purple Foliage
• Cut Blooms Perform Beautifully in the Vase
• Exceptional Cut Flower, or in Dried Arrangements
• Butterflies Adore the Nectar
• Supports Beneficial Pollinators
• Durable Variety Tolerates Full Sun With Mulch and Moisture
• Can Also Be Grown in Partial Shade
• Cold Hardy
• Widely Adaptable

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 (Astilbe thunbergii ‘Chocolate Shogun’ PP #26,430). Deep, bronzy purple foliage is finely dissected and adds both 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 indoors 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 particular variety is known for its ability to withstand more sunlight than others in cooler climates with adequate moisture. In all other Zones, provide a spot in a dappled shade garden.

Sophisticated Chocolate Shogun is a great choice for both modern gardens and Cottage style designs. At once strong, and softly delicate…this Astilbe provides painterly detail that works at ground level.

You can also grow them in outdoor containers to suit the requirements of small space gardens. Try them in a pretty “Filler” to provide support for a topiary evergreen or columnar Apple tree.

This cold-hardy selection is a steadfast perennial. It will perform beautifully for you year after year with proper care.

No wonder this is such a popular plant!

Use several to create an easy masterpiece in your outdoor living.

How to Use Chocolate Shogun Astilbe in the Landscape

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.

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.

Partner them with blue-toned Hosta or Silver Heart Brunnera in a shady setting. Add them at the northern base of soaring Dallas Blues Switch Grass in a sun-soaked area with plenty of mulch and drip irrigation.

Enliven a side yard with their help. Go ahead and make a larger than life statement with a mass planting under the stretching, strappy leaves of Chicago Apache Daylilies.

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 out to play. Chocolate Shogun Astilbe is sure to inspire you!

Tips for Care

Plant them in full sun in the northern areas. Baby it with a consistent schedule of water for good results. Mulch over their roots, pulling it well away from touching the crown of the plant.

Otherwise, in areas with hot summers, provide part shade. They do need at least four hours of sunlight a day.

Rich, well-drained soil that has plenty of humus and organic material is best. When planting, add handfuls of compost to the backfill soil.

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