- Full Shade to Full Sun (0 - 6+ Hours Direct Sunlight)
- Mature Height 20 - 22 Inches
- Mature Spread 24 - 28 Inches
- Growing Zones 4 - 9
You don’t need to travel to the dark side of the moon to find a beautiful Astilbe with chocolatey-brown leaves and delicate raspberry-pink flowers. One of the main attractions of Dark Side of the Moon is its unique coloring, resulting from the plant's high levels of anthocyanin, a pigment that gives the foliage its dark hue. The new leaves of the Dark Side of the Moon Astilbe emerge yellow with a dark margin and gradually fade into a rich, deep purply brown, adding contrast especially when planted near bright chartreuse and green foliage. In mid to late summer, the Dark Side of the Moon Astilbe grows tall, wispy panicles topped with hundreds of dainty mulberry buds that open into pink blossoms. The bring pink flowers provide a beautiful contrast against the dark leaves.
At 24-28 inches wide and 22 inches tall, the compact Dark Side of the Moon Astilbe is an ideal choice for sunny and shady gardens alike. It is a member of the Saxifragaceae family and is native to China. The Dark Side of the Moon Astilbe grows best in light shade to dappled sun, especially in warmer and drier climates. While Astilbe can grow in full shade, you may experience less vigorous blooms. It is relatively disease resistant and deer resistant, allowing it to be planted near wooded areas. This low, mounding herbaceous perennial requires little more than an early spring trim and regular watering throughout the growing season. Astilbe also makes for a beautiful and unique cut flower.
Dark Side of the Moon Astilbe Care
Darkside of the Moon Astilbe is a relatively easy plant to care for and can be grown in a variety of soil types as long as they are well draining. It prefers a soil pH that is slightly acidic to neutral and does well in rich, organic soil. This plant can tolerate full sun as long as it is provided with adequate moisture, but it will generally perform best in partial sun or dappled shade. To plant, dig a hole that is twice the width and of equal depth as the root ball. Amend your soil as needed to ensure proper drainage.
The Dark Side of the Moon Astilbe needs regular watering, especially in the hottest and driest months. After allowing the top inch or so to dry, water Astilbe deeply, encouraging the plant to grow stronger, deeper roots. To keep the soil moist, add 2-3 inches of mulch around the base of Astilbe in the spring. In addition, this astilbe benefits from regular fertilization every four to six weeks during the growing season to promote healthy growth and flowering; use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer formulated for flowering plants. However, it is important not to over-fertilize the plant, as this can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of flowers.
As an herbaceous perennial, the Dark Side of the Moon Astilbe will die back to the ground after a hard frost. Avoid cutting the plant back until early spring, just before new foliage emerges. The spent foliage will protect the plant from extreme cold temperatures. Cut back the old foliage to the ground to allow the plant to produce new healthy foliage and encourage vigorous flowering. It is also a good idea to remove damaged or diseased foliage as it occurs. Once the flower spike has finished blooming, it can be cut back to keep your Astilbe looking neat and tidy.
When planting in containers, always choose a pot that is larger than the root ball to allow the plant some room to grow, and use a high-quality potting soil. Astilbe may require more frequent water in containers than when planted in a garden bed. If the leaf edges are becoming brown and crispy, the plant may not be getting enough water.
Dark Side of the Moon Astilbe Spacing
Plant the Dark Side of the Moon Astilbe 24-28 inches away from other plants. When mass planting, that distance can be a bit less to allow them to grow together. Adequate spacing is essential to prevent overcrowding, which leads to decreased flowering and increased disease susceptibility. For container growing, select a pot with at least a 12-inch diameter and drainage holes.
Dark Side of the Moon Astilbe Information
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 - 9 |
Plant Type: Perennial |
Light Exposure: Full Shade to Full Sun (0 - 6+ Hours Direct Sunlight) |
Mature Height: 20 - 22 Inches |
Mature Spread: 24 - 28 Inches |
Mature Spacing: 24 - 28 Inches |
Habit: Upright |
Flower Color(s): Purple |
Flower Description: Rosy purple |
Bloom Period: Summer |
Foliage Type: Herbaceous |
Foliage Color(s): Black |
Foliage Description: N/A |
Seasonal Interest: Spring Flowering, Summer Flowering |
Watering: Consistent |
Resists: Deer, Rabbit |
Tolerates: Heat |
Attracts: Bees |
Container Role: Filler |
Uses: Borders, Containers, Mass Planting |
Features: Attracts Pollinators, Cut Flowers, Foliage Interest, Low Maintenance |
Brand: Proven Winners |
Common Name: Dark Side of the Moon Astilbe |
Other Name(s): N/A |
Scientific Name: Astilbe hybrid |
- SKU:
- ASTDM
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
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Plant Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
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Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
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Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
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Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations