Cimicifuga 'Hillside Black Beauty'

Cimicifuga 'Hillside Black Beauty': A Gothic Grace in Bloom

Cimicifuga 'Hillside Black Beauty' is a standout in the late-season shade garden, known for its dramatic dark foliage and towering spires of fragrant, pale pink-white blooms. Its lacy, deeply divided leaves emerge deep purple-black in spring and maintain their dusky hue through the season, creating a striking backdrop for other woodland perennials. In late summer to early fall, slender bottlebrush flowers rise like candlelight above the foliage, swaying gently and drawing pollinators with their sweet, musky scent. With its commanding height and shadow-toned beauty, this cultivar adds mood and movement to even the quietest garden corners.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 150–180 cm in bloom
• Spread: 75–90 cm, with a tall, upright clumping habit
• Flower Colour: Pale pink to white; fragrant, slender bottlebrush spires
• Flowering Period: Late summer to early fall
• Foliage: Deep burgundy to near-black; finely cut and lacy, maintaining colour throughout the season
• Sunlight Requirements: Part shade to full shade; tolerates morning sun with adequate moisture
• Soil Requirements: Moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil; thrives in evenly damp, shaded conditions

Uses and Benefits: Cimicifuga 'Hillside Black Beauty' provides vertical interest, bold foliage contrast, and late-season bloom in shade gardens where few plants offer this combination. Its richly coloured leaves anchor planting schemes from spring to frost, while its late-flowering spikes add fragrance and motion. Deer-resistant and attractive to bees, butterflies, and hoverflies, it’s perfect for woodland edges, shaded borders, and rain gardens with steady moisture. It pairs especially well with other broad-leaved or finely textured shade plants to create layered, textural depth.

Companion Plants: Pair 'Hillside Black Beauty' with Heuchera 'Berry Timeless', whose silvery-pink foliage and delicate flower wands echo the cimicifuga’s blooms while enhancing its dark foliage. Add Polygonatum multiflorum, the graceful Solomon’s seal, whose arching stems and creamy bells introduce spring interest and a nodding softness. Complete the planting with Dryopteris 'Toothed Wood Fern', whose bright green, finely divided fronds lift against the dark leaves and add a woodland rhythm beneath the vertical spires. Together, they form a richly layered, moisture-loving composition that evolves through the seasons with elegance and ease.

Care Instructions: Plant in part to full shade in moist, organically rich soil. Keep soil evenly moist—especially in summer heat. Cut back flower stems after bloom, or leave standing for winter interest. Divide clumps every 4–5 years in early spring if needed. Mulch annually to conserve moisture and enrich the soil.

History: A celebrated cultivar of Cimicifuga racemosa (syn. Actaea racemosa), 'Hillside Black Beauty' was introduced by the renowned Hillside Gardens in Connecticut. It was one of the first cultivars to offer truly dark foliage, setting a new standard for ornamental bugbanes in the shade garden. Though slow to establish, it rewards patience with architectural form and season-long beauty.

Final Thoughts: Cimicifuga 'Hillside Black Beauty' is a garden poem in shadow—bold, fragrant, and dignified. When layered with the shimmering tones of Heuchera 'Berry Timeless', the graceful arcs of Polygonatum multiflorum, and the textured lift of Dryopteris 'Toothed Wood Fern', it becomes the heart of a sophisticated shade garden composition. For gardeners seeking colour, stature, and sensory richness in the late-season shade, this cultivar is nothing short of sublime.