Astilbe chinensis var. taquetii 'Purple Candles'

Purple-red plumes top the rugged, rich green foliage in late summer, making a more pronounced statement than you'd expect from most Astilbes. Pair Astilbe chinensis var. taquetii 'Purple Candles' with the gray-green and wine red of Japanese Painted Fern. A Proven Winners® variety.

Astilbe is a genus of rugged and beautiful plants for part shade that throw lovely flower spikes above Fern-like foliage in summer. Use them in groups in the woodland border, or mass them to create a ground cover. Bloom varies by variety from mid-June to the end of August; with careful selection, the display can be sustained through most of summer. In evenly moist or wet soil, Astilbes are tough, pest-free, and handsome. The only thing they cannot endure is drought. The blooms are useful for cutting if they are picked when half open.

For more information on growing Astilbe, click Growing Guide.

We want our customers to receive strong, healthy plants that are ready to thrive in their gardens and homes. Here's what we'd like you to know about our shipping practices.

Delivery Timing

We aim to deliver your plants at as close to the proper time for planting in your area as possible. To do so, we consider the USDA Hardiness Zone to which we're shipping, current and forecasted weather at the destination and along the shipping route, and whether your plants are ready for transplant.

In spring, we ship first to the warmest regions and move north as planting conditions improve. For fall deliveries, we begin with the coolest regions and work south. We frequently adjust shipping schedules when extreme weather could put plants at risk while in transit or soon after arrival.

Because different plants reach readiness at different rates and are weather-sensitive in varying degree, a single order may be delivered via multiple shipments. Plants sold as part of a collection, or that are otherwise meant to arrive together, will be shipped together. Please contact our customer service team with two weeks' advance notice if you anticipate being away at the expected time of delivery. 

Tracking information for each package is delivered via email. 

Plant & Container Sizes

We deliver plants in various sizes and stages of growth, and the product detail pages of our website indicate the form and/or pot size in which the plant will be delivered. Pot sizes range from 1 pint to 1 gallon and larger. Many perennials, roses, shrubs and vines are delivered bareroot - that is, not in a container at all. Bulbs and tubers are generally delivered bareroot and fully dormant. We choose container sizes and delivery methods based on how each plant grows best, how we can minimize transplant shock, and how to minimize unnecessary bulk/weight in shipment. 

Caring for Your Plants Upon Arrival

It is important to acclimate greenhouse-grown plants to life outdoors. All plant shipments include simple instructions for handling your plants upon arrival. Further how-to information, including planting instructions, is available on each plant's product page.

Latin Name Pronunciation: uh-still'-bee  

Astilbe are one of the best flowers for light to moderate shade. In average garden soil, requires partial shade; tolerates full sun where moisture is ample. (Partial shade or shade and damp soil are required for best performance in the South and in warm inland areas of the West.) Most varieties fare poorly in dry soil. Many gardeners find the spent plumes attractive and so leave them standing until they are beaten down by inclement weather.

Suggested use: A good choice for somewhat shaded areas in the back of the rock garden, herbaceous border, and in front of the shrub border; also include in the cutting garden.

Culture: Provide soil that is well drained and rather rich in organic matter; plants like filtered light and evenly damp—not wet—locations; 3–4 hours sun; planting depth 1″; space 12–18″; pH 6.5–7.0.

Problems: Few problems with insects and disease but blossoms may dry out prematurely in exceptionally hot weather.

At White Flower Farm, we stand firmly behind every product we sell and are proud to offer a money-back guarantee on each and every item offered on our website and at our store in Connecticut. Some modest terms and conditions apply, click here for details.

Should you have any questions about how our guarantee applies to a particular product or circumstance, our customer service team will be happy to help – please contact us at (800) 411-6159 or [email protected].