Compact, Free-Flowering Ruby-Red Plumes for the Shade Younique Ruby Red Astilbe (Astilbe 'Younique Ruby Red') sets the shade garden glowing with full, fluffy ruby-red plumes above glossy, deeply cut green foliage in summer. The Younique series is bred to be compact and exceptionally well-branched, producing more plumes on a tidy plant. Deer-resistant and reliably hardy, it adds rich, bold color to moist, part-shade borders and rain gardens in Edina, Woodbury, and Maple Grove. Younique Ruby Red Astilbe Plant Details Attribute Detail Botanical Name Astilbe 'Younique Ruby Red' Mature Size 14–18 in. tall, 14–18 in. wide Hardiness Zone 4–8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a — fully hardy) Light Part shade to full shade Bloom Time Early to midsummer Flower Color Ruby-red Soil Moist, rich; never let it dry out — excellent for rain gardens Winter Hardiness Reliable to about -25°F once established Deer Resistance Rarely browsed by deer or rabbits Landscape Uses in Minnesota Compact shade color: Its tidy, well-branched habit suits the front of a shaded border and small spaces. Space 14–18 inches apart. Rain gardens and woodland borders: Loves moist soil and tolerates clay; the plumes draw bees and butterflies. Pair with hostas, ferns, and brunnera. Best Time to Plant in Minnesota Plant in spring (late April–May) or early fall (late August–mid September) into rich, moist, shaded soil. Keep consistently moist. How to Plant Younique Ruby Red Astilbe Dig a hole twice the root ball width at the same depth, mixing in compost. Set the crown level, backfill, water well, and mulch 2–3 inches deep. Space 14–18 inches apart in a spot that stays moist. Watering Younique Ruby Red Astilbe First year: Keep the soil consistently moist — water every 1–3 days in dry weather. Astilbe foliage scorches if it dries out. After year one: Maintain steady moisture, especially in any sun. It will not tolerate prolonged drought. Q: Will it survive a Minnesota winter?Yes — hardy to zone 4, returning each spring. Q: Does it need shade and moisture?Yes — astilbe is a moist-shade plant. Give it rich, consistently moist soil out of hot afternoon sun. Q: Is it deer-resistant?Yes — deer and rabbits rarely browse astilbe. Q: What makes the Younique series special?It's bred for a compact, well-branched habit that produces more plumes on a smaller, tidier plant. You May Also Like Younique Cerise Astilbe (Astilbe): A bright cerise-pink from the same compact series. Hosta: A bold-leaved shade companion. Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina): A native fern for moist shade. How Many Younique Ruby Red Astilbe Do I Need?Younique Ruby Red Astilbe is a compact 14–18 in plant, so space about 16 inches apart for a tidy front-of-border drift. For accents, plant in groups of 3–5. Bed / Run Length Plants Needed (at ~16 in apart) 5 ft 4 plants 10 ft 8 plants 15 ft 11 plants 20 ft 15 plants Younique Ruby Red Astilbe Season-by-Season in Minnesota Spring: Glossy, deeply cut green foliage emerges in a compact mound. Summer: Rich ruby-red, well-branched plumes rise early to midsummer and draw bees and butterflies. Fall: Plumes fade to seed heads; the cut foliage stays neat into fall. Winter: Cut back spent growth; the crown overwinters dormant and returns each spring. At a Glance✔ Pollinator-Friendly ✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Shade-Tolerant ✔ Rain-Garden / Wet-SoilPlant It With Younique Carmine Astilbe — deep carmine-pink plumes from the same compact series. Younique Cerise Astilbe — vivid cerise-pink for a bold warm grouping. Japanese Painted Fern — silvery fronds that set off the plumes in shade. Lady Fern — an airy native fern for moist woodland shade. Is Younique Ruby Red Astilbe Right for Your Yard?Younique Ruby Red Astilbe is perfect for the front of a shaded, consistently moist Minnesota border or a rain garden, where its compact, well-branched habit packs in more plumes and deer leave it alone. It's not a fit for hot, dry full sun or soil that dries out.
