Astilbe Foliage: Bronze, Dark & Colorful Leaf Varieties
Your neighbor’s astilbe displays chocolate-maroon foliage lasting from spring through fall while yours shows standard green leaves. The difference lies in cultivar selection prioritizing foliage characteristics over flower color alone[2]. Varieties like Chocolate Shogun produce the deepest, darkest foliage of any astilbe through enhanced anthocyanin production in leaf tissue[2]. Here’s how to select astilbe varieties that deliver exceptional foliage interest throughout the growing season.
💡Master comprehensive astilbe cultivation from foliage selection through seasonal maintenance with our complete astilbe guide for year-round shade garden interest.
Why Foliage Matters More Than Flowers
Most gardeners choose astilbe only because it’s in the color of the flowers that can be laid out before them and overlook the foliage that lingers for months after blooms end. Astilbe leaves serve a seasonal function, starting at spring time and concluding with dried feathery plumes and seedheads in winter. This year, the fern-like compound leaves impart texture to the shade garden that lasts approximately 6-8 months. Flowers generally only have 4-6 weeks blooms[3], so foliage becomes the predominant decorative feature for most of the growing season.
Astilbe flowers bloom for only 4-6 weeks, but foliage provides visual impact for 6-8 months annually.
Leaf color of astilbe varies among different species and cultivars:
- Japanese species of astilbe usually have glossy leaves tinged with red[1]
- Chinese species of astilbe show deeply-cut, coarse-textured leaves commonly in tones of bronze-green[4]
- Star astilbe cultivars have delicate and fine, shiny leaves with a delicate texture[2]
Such differences enable gardeners to establish multi-layered shade plantings with different leaf shapes and colours.
Bronze Foliage Varieties for Warm Metallic Tones
Bronze foliage varieties lend warm metallic finishes to enhance garden color palettes. Sprite grows small, pointed, jagged foliage that has a bronze color throughout its life span[1]. This dwarf variation measures 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide[1], so can be used for the front border and container. The bronze-tinted leaves match the pale pink flowers that sprout at the end of the summer.
Fanal: Bronze-Red Spring Emergence
Fanal has an appearance of bronze-red leaves when fresh leaves are seen on spring emergence[2]. Greens and other reddish coloring is observed in the foliage as summer wears on[2]. This seasonal color change brings dynamic visual interest that stretches beyond the early- to midsummer crimson flower display. Fanal becomes 24 inches tall and 12-18 inches wide[1][2] and suitable for the middle borders.
Montgomery: Bronze-Tipped Foliage
Montgomery bears foliage that appears bronze-red, turns to deeper green[2]. Bronze in color, that is, comes to the fore-most of these bronze tones at the leaf tips, during spring emergence. Plants are 20-24 inches tall and wide[2] causing large vegetation mounds under the magenta-red flower plumes. The bronze leaves on the spring foliage correspond nicely with the deep red stems that support the mid-summer blooms with the flowers.
Chinese Astilbe: Coarse Bronze-Green Texture
Bronze-green or bronze foliage coloration is continuously observed in all the Chinese astilbe types of astilbe, the Chinese ones. The leaves in the astilbe chinensis variety of astilbe have deeply incised, coarse-textured, and bronze-green leaves[4]. This leaf color variation is in contrast to those of the fine-leaved Japanese hybrids. The coarse leaves of a plant in the shade gardens are strong enough to bring out contrast in texture. Chinese astilbe varieties also show higher drought tolerance than other species[4], permitting their bronze-green leaves to grow still under even drier temperatures with less visible plants.
Dark Foliage Varieties: Chocolate and Maroon Tones
Dark foliage varieties with large leaves are able to create a dramatic contrast in shade plantings. Chocolate Shogun gives the deepest and darkest foliage of any astilbe cultivar[2]. The chocolate-maroon leaves maintain intense color throughout the growing season. Deep shade makes the leaves turn muddy dark green[2], so adequate sunlight treatment is necessary to retain their dark coloration. In early to midsummer the flowers are pale pink with some tinge of white.
Dark Side of the Moon
Dark Side of the Moon shows rich chocolate brown leaves with vibrant rosy purple flowers[6]. In the spring time (and through the growing season) the dark foliage is visible all around. Plants are 20-22 inches tall and 24-28 inches wide[6]. This late-blooming variety blooms from mid-to-late summer, prolonging the interest in the garden’s dark foliage for the season.
The dark leaf coloration is due to high levels of anthocyanin pigments in the leaf tissue. These pigments protect plants from UV radiation and environmental stress. For dark-leaved varieties, they typically need more light than green leaves to maintain intense coloration. Having a morning sun in the afternoon shade creates the best way for color development, it keeps from getting really heat stressed.
Colorful Foliage Beyond Bronze and Dark
There is color in foliage, however, other than that of bronze and dark shades. Amber Moon appears in spring colored chartreuse-yellow to chartreuse and red-edged leaves and we see the green leaf form in the springtime. The yellow-tinged green leaves change to chartreuse as the season wears on[2]. Sunlight and shade should both match the color of each leaf and this variety cannot survive as it is not sun-saturated. Morning sun with afternoon shade gives bright color to all leaves. While too much sunlight brightens their foliage, too much sun burns the leaves[2]. Amber Moon is 24 to 30 inches tall and 20 to 24 inches wide[2]. Rose blossoms are grown on this kind of terrain in midsummer as well.
Delft Lace: Blue-Green to Burgundy
Delft Lace provides lacy blue-green leaves that grow in the growing season[3]. The silvery blue-green foliage comes forth in spring to create cool-toned contrasts in shade gardens. In autumn, the foliage turns rich burgundy[3], continuing the seasonal aspect. Bright red stems help sustain delicate salmon-red flowers in early summer with their blue-green foliage. When once the foliage has died back, deep red seed panicles add winter interest[3].
Foliage Texture: From Glossy to Coarse
The texture of the fresher foliage varies immensely among species of astilbe:
| Species Type | Texture | Leaf Characteristics | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese astilbe | Glossy, fine | Reflects light, smaller divisions | Polished appearance in shade |
| Chinese astilbe | Coarse, deeply cut | Larger, substantial leaves | Bold texture contrast |
| Star astilbe | Fine, shiny | Delicate patterns | Small spaces, containers |
Japanese astilbe makes glossy leaves that cast light in shaded places[1]. The glossy appearance gives shade plants an impressive polished look. Leaves are usually smaller compared to Chinese species, so the finer divisions make for an intricate texture.
Chinese astilbe has a coarse, deeply cut foliage[4]. Compared to Japanese types, the leaves appear to be bigger and more weighty. Deep leaf incisions create bold texture that contrasts effectively with fine-textured companions like ferns.
💡Maximize textural impact by pairing astilbe with complementary plants using our foliage contrasts guide including hostas, ferns, and heucheras.
The coarse leaves lend the garden pieces visual heft.
Star astilbe has the best foliage texture of the cultivated ones. Their shiny leaves form fine patterns beneath the star-shaped flowers. Hennie Graafland, for example, has dense, well developed glossy and dense leafy dark green foliage which remains crisp and attractive after bloom[2]. The good texture is well-suited to small spaces and container planting. Plants develop 16-18 inches tall and 10-14 inches wide[2].
Seasonal Foliage Transformations
The changes in foliage add ever-changing gardening interest with seasonal changes in foliage.
Spring Emergence
Bronze or red hues are common features for spring emergence in many types of plants or types. The colors of new growth are usually deep-tinged with colors before growing larger greening as growth matures into deeper greening. The bronze and red tones result from the deposition of anthocyanin which prevents young leaves from being subjected to spring sunlight.
Summer Foliage
Summer foliage grows to a mature green color stage. Glossy versions like Bridal Veil keep their leaves polished through summer heat. Bronze-tinted varieties such as Sprite retain warm metallic tones even as the leaves develop. Darker varieties, like Chocolate Shogun, take time: they need moist and well maintained humidity (or the necessary light) to keep intense coloration through summer stress periods.
Autumn Color Changes
Some of the varieties even convert to darker shades in autumn. The foliage of the Delft Lace goes from blue-green to an increasingly rich burgundy[3]. The Glow then leaves out bronze-red foliage that matures to medium green color, often with a hint of enhanced bronze colors again in fall[2]. All sorts of seasonal shifts extend interest in ornamental patterns past summer flowering time.
Winter Interest from Dried Seedheads
Winter foliage interest comes from dried seedheads and flower stalks. Spent flower plumes turn rich caramel color, providing structure in winter gardens[5]. The dried seedheads last through winter providing vertical interest and texture.
💡Discover creative applications for ornamental foliage with our foliage interest gallery showcasing seasonal transformations and winter structure.
Many gardeners leave flower stalks in specific places for winter appeal, rather than deadheading afterwards.
Care Requirements for Optimal Foliage Color
Care of leaves results in leaf color and quality enhanced. It turns out water is what makes all astilbe varieties beautiful.
Moisture is Critical
As drought stress promotes foliage browning and leaf die-back[3], soil can never dry out completely. Sharp and fragile leaf margins indicate severe drought stress needing immediate rehydration[2]. However, Chinese varieties of astilbe endure slightly drier conditions than Japanese hybrids but still require regular moisture[4].
Light Exposure Affects Color
Being exposed to light makes a big difference in foliage color. Dark-leaved cultivars often require sun in the morning or be dressed within dappled shade in shades and this is to maintain a deep color. Too much shade also makes dark foliage break down in dull muddy green tones[2]. In contrast, excessive direct sun burns leaves and may cause wilting. Most varieties perform best in partial shade, with 4-6 hours of filtered light daily.
Soil Fertility and Nutrition
A fertile soil promotes the healthy development of foliage. Astilbes require fertile, humus-rich soils with constant moisture retention. To support foliage through this growing season, a single application of pre-spring rollout of granular fertilizer (targeted at that time) is given[3]. Applying high-nitrogen fertilizer in autumn induces bud formation for early-flowering varieties[3].
Mulching for Moisture Retention
Mulching maintains moisture content and modulates temperature of soil:
- Apply 2-3 inches of organic mulch around plants
- Keep material away from crowns[3]
- Use leaf mold or compost for added organic matter
- Mulch prevents rapid soil drying that damages foliage quality
Division Maintains Vigor
Division in mature clumps encourages foliage vigor. To avoid overcrowding, divide plants every 3-4 years[3][4]. Small leaves are produced by crowded clusters and growth is more depressed. The first, spring division, gives plants time to settle down before summer heat puts pressure on plant leaves.
Selecting Astilbe for Foliage-First Gardens
Choose astilbe to gain features of foliage to turn them into shade gardens of long period of seasonal interest. Bronze-leaved varieties such as Sprite and Fanal give nice warm metallic hues from spring to fall. Dark varieties, like Chocolate Shogun and Dark Side of the Moon, offer dramatic focal points with chocolate-maroon leaves. Colorful varieties such as Amber Moon and Delft Lace are chartreuse and blue-green substitutes for plain green leaves.
The visual contrast of texture is also very strong. Texture variations ranging from high gloss Japanese varieties to coarse Chinese species to fine star astilbe cultivars.
💡Implement foliage textures strategically in your landscape with our foliage texture in design guide featuring layering and contrast principles.
Choose astilbe in its color and texture — and take into consideration the seasonal changes — and in choosing flower colors to match the leaves. This promotes well done shade planting for 6-8 months when foliage offers more visual impact.
💡Explore the complete range of cultivar characteristics beyond foliage with our comprehensive all varieties guide covering height, color, and bloom timing.
Key Sources:
[1] 19 Different Types of Beautiful Astilbe Varieties | Epic Gardening
[2] 12 Brilliant Astilbes | Fine Gardening
[3] Growing Astilbe – How to Grow & Care for Astilbe Plants | Garden Design
[4] Astilbe chinensis var. davidii | Missouri Botanical Garden
[5] Late Season Astilbe Varieties For Your Garden | Gardenia.net
[6] Astilbe ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ | Walters Gardens
Lily Morgan is a home gardener. She grows houseplants and designs small-space gardens. She shares what she learns from experience. Lily offers simple, practical tips for plant lovers. Her goal is to help others garden with confidence. She wants to help them grow, one leaf at a time.
