{"product_id":"dark-side-of-the-moon-astilbe-72-cell-plug-tray","title":"Dark Side of the Moon Astilbe - 72-Cell Plug Tray","description":"\u003cp\u003eDark Side of the Moon is an astilbe that pairs dark foliage with purple flowers, a rare combination. Glossy new leaves emerge yellow with dark edges, then darken to a rich chocolate burgundy that looks good all season.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn late summer, dark stems carry raspberry buds that open to rosy purple plumes. The plant forms a mound about 20 inches tall, with plumes reaching closer to 30 inches. It has won national awards and trial honors, and in the north it grows and flowers best in full sun with steady moisture, though it also handles shade. Deer and rabbits avoid it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat it looks like\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eNarrow, branched, upright plumes 6 to 8 inches long of tiny rosy purple flowers opening from raspberry red buds, held on dark burgundy stems above the leaves. Leaves are compound, deeply cut and coarsely textured, glossy deep chocolate burgundy; new leaves emerge yellow with dark margins. The foliage mound is 20 to 22 inches tall and 24 to 28 inches wide, with plumes rising to about 30 inches. At peak bloom rosy purple spires stand over the dark mound.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eGrowing it with lavender\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eAstilbe needs moist, rich soil and shade, the opposite of lavender's dry, sunny bed, so plant it in a shade garden or along a damp woodland edge with hostas and ferns.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCare\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eAstilbe grows best in part shade in rich, humus-rich soil that never dries out; in the north it takes more sun if kept moist. Hardy in USDA zones 4-9. Mulch to hold moisture, water during dry spells to prevent leaf scorch, and leave the dried plumes for winter interest before cutting back in spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAt a glance\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Astilbe chinensis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlower color:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rosy purple from raspberry buds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Glossy chocolate burgundy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth habit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mounded clump with upright plumes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20–22 in tall × 24–28 in wide\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA hardiness zones:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4–9\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun, part sun to part shade, full shade\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBloom start:\u003c\/strong\u003e Late-July\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePeak bloom:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mid-August\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBloom pattern:\u003c\/strong\u003e Single Flush\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDeer resistance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Resistant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePollinator value:\u003c\/strong\u003e Good\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSizes and shipping\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne full 72-cell plug tray: 72 young starter plugs of this variety (cells about 1⅓ in. wide × 2½ in. deep), rooted and ready to pot up into quarts or gallons. Best for growers and nurseries. Potted plants and plug trays ship during our live-plant seasons, March 1–May 31 and October 1–November 30; June through September is local pickup only. Plugs, potted plants and trays do not ship to AZ, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR, UT or WA.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Great Lakes Lavender Farm","offers":[{"title":"72-Cell Plug Tray","offer_id":67722982162728,"sku":"GLLF-PER-01F62214-72","price":948.35,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/0736\/9768\/files\/dark-side-of-the-moon-astilbe.jpg?v=1790864876","url":"https:\/\/greatlakeslavenderfarm.com\/products\/dark-side-of-the-moon-astilbe-72-cell-plug-tray","provider":"Great Lakes Lavender Farm","version":"1.0","type":"link"}