'Hillside Black Beauty' Bugbane | Actaea simplex

The darkest Cimicifuga to date, 'Hillside Black Beauty' is truly a collector's item.  It forms an upright clump of striking, dark purplish-black foliage contrasted by long, white bottlebrush blooms late in the season.

Though the young foliage tends to be green, it quickly deepens to an almost iridescent purple-black. In late summer, the 4-7' tall stems are topped with foot-long, fragrant, white flowers blushed with pale pink.

Cimicifuga is a wonderfully lacy, airy backdrop in the garden. It is especially attractive when combined with variegated or yellow foliage.