A new black-stemmed form with pink flowers. Position: partial shade Soil: moist, well-drained, moderately fertile, humus-rich soil Rate of growth: fast-growing Flowering period: June to October Hardiness: fully hardy A recently introduced cultivar that produces the much-loved flower clusters throughout summer and autumn, but these are carried on lustrous, near-black stems. This gives the plant a unique and attractive twist. The flower colour can vary when grown on acidic soils, but generally the deep pink flowers of 'Zambia' appear a lime green colour when they are first emerging, and both the young and more mature flowers contrast really well with its steely coloured stems. A very welcome addition to the family. The dark stem colour becomes more obvious as the plant matures. Garden care: Leave the old flower heads in place through the winter. As the new shoots start to emerge in spring cut back a third to a quarter of the previous season's flowering stems to the base and cut back the remaining flower heads to the first pair of buds.
