Astilbe 'Chocolate Shogun'

Cream to soft lavender pink flowers over gorgeous, chocolate foliage.

The dramatic foliage emerges in spring and can remain impressive up until frost. With the darkest foliage of all the Astilbe, this is certainly garden worthy.

The chocolate foliage is not only an ornamental feature, it has a practical application too, this Astilbe will tolerate more sun than most. Still best kept out of the hot afternoon sun, but it opens up a lot of new opportunities. Bred in Japan by Nagasaki Teruhisa, it was a seedling of Astilbe thunbergia.

The blushing flowers will turn bronze with the cooler weather and can remain beautifully ornamental through autumn and winter, even after the foliage fades. The flowers last incredibly well in arrangements and you can even dry them.

Astilbes thrive in moist soils, their handsome, fern like foliage looks wonderful in a woodland garden or shady border.

Plant Astilbe into a humus rich, moist soil, an acid PH is preferred but not demanded. Water in your Astilbe and keep them moist in active growth, they are quite thirsty, but when cared for will form handsome clumps and when watered the foliage looks amazing right into autumn. You could add a little mulch in summer to help retain moisture around the roots.

Astilbe grow best in part shade, filtered light or morning sun positions – think Hostas and ferns. While they will grow in full shade they won’t flower at their best and tend to stretch. In sunny positions you will need to ensure they have adequate moisture or they tend to become straggly and not bother blooming.