Ellie Astilbe (Astilbe japonica 'Ellie')
ah-STILL-bee jah-PON-ih-k 'Ellie'

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Spreading, Clump-forming
A striking Astilbe japonica selection with large, pure white plumes set off dramatically against very dark green foliage.

'Ellie' is a newer Astilbe japonica cultivar known for its large, full white flower plumes, which stand out sharply against unusually dark green foliage. It blooms in early to mid-summer, offering some of the brightest white color in the shade garden.

Pros

  • Large, showy white flower plumes
  • Striking contrast against very dark green foliage
  • Deer and rabbit resistant
  • Reliable bloomer in shade

Cons

  • Needs consistently moist soil
  • Prefers shade and may not tolerate much direct sun
  • May be susceptible to powdery mildew in poor air circulation
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 20 - 24 inches tall. 18 - 24 inches wide.
Growth Rate Moderate
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Partial Shade
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet
Zones 3a - 8b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Colorful Foliage, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Extended Bloom Time, Fall Color, For a Shady Spot, Formal Garden, Full Shade, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Rain Garden, Good for Rock Garden, Low Maintenance, Medium, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Thrillers, Tolerant of Loamy Soil, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant, Winter Interest, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period Early to Mid-Summer
Flower Color White
Foliage Color Green, Green tinged with Red
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 06/28
2024 : 05/16 - 06/15

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


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To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.

Shoot us an email at help@northshoreplantclub.com, and we'll be happy to talk about plants or let you know when it's time to buy them!


No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!