I'll never forget standing atop the Cang Shan mountains (9,500') in Yunnan, China last fall when my eyes first landed on Astilbe grandis. It was a hot rocky site, so it must have been a mirage...a 5' wide basal rosette of astilbe like foliage with a dramatic reddish purple cast to the new growth. The giant flower spike towering to 6' tall had long since faded, but was still an imposing sight. This is possibly the first US introduction of this spectacular species. Although we have not yet flowered this collection, references indicate that you could expect white flowers.
