Astilbe ‘To Have and to Hold’

Burgundy Foliage Refuses to Green Out, Even in Warm Climates With A. chinensis in its heritage, this Astilbe is far more heat-tolerant and vigorous than most. A stylishly variegated Astilbe boasting rich purple, burgundy, and maroon tones amid the green of its leaves, ‘To Have and to Hold’ is a welcome addition to the partly shaded border, woodland garden, or container display. Its late-blooming flowers of purplish-red are fade-resistant and long-lasting, and the elegant foliage keeps this plant beautiful from spring until hard frost. The flowers arise in tall, symmetrical spikes, very profuse and held straight up. The color is a nice deep magenta, and the stems are dark, making the blooms stand out even more.

The show begins in midsummer and continues through late summer in most climates, making it the very last Astilbe in flower in most gardens. A nice way to extend the season just a bit!The plant is quite compact, just 28 inches high (in bloom) and 22 inches wide. Its large, handsome foliage attracts attention even without the flowers, and remains fresh and lush for three seasons. A good choice to plant in front of taller varieties such as ‘Snowdrift,’ ‘To Have and to Hold’ also makes a good large planting all by itself, its variegated leaves keeping every plant distinctive and interesting.

Give this Astilbe partial shade and well-drained, enriched garden soil for best flowering. Bred from A. chinensis (among other species), it is quite heat-tolerant, making it a better choice for the south and west than many other Astilbes. Vigorous and easy to care for, it will quickly become a mainstay of your shade border.

Zones 3-8.