Astilbe 'Rise and Shine' - Hybrid Astilbe

It can be difficult to find a beautiful plant tolerant of shade. As someone with personal experience in a shady gardens, I know it is easy to tire of hostas, ferns, and more hostas. Astilbe is a favorite plant because it has full cloud-like blooms that bring loads of color to a shade garden. When Emily and I saw 'Rise and Shine', we jinxed each other saying 'ooh'. The way the pinks, reds, and purples cascade together creates an energizing visual effect. The blooms, that are less like flowers and cloud formations or geometric works of art, appear in early to midsummer and persist to near fall. In a shade garden this remarkable flower shines bringing striking texture and color that is supported by dark, complex multi-lobe foliage, which helps the flower color pop. In addition to being beautiful, the flowers are also fragrant and quite pollinator friendly.