''Astilbe'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of 18

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

rhizomatous In botany and dendrology, a rhizome ( ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s within the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Saxifragaceae Saxifragaceae is a family of Herbaceous plant, herbaceous Perennial plant, perennial flowering plants, within the core eudicot Order (biology), order Saxifragales. The Taxonomy (biology), taxonomy of the family has been greatly revised and the ...

native Native may refer to: People * '' Jus sanguinis'', nationality by blood * '' Jus soli'', nationality by location of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Nat ...

to mountain ravines and woodlands in Asia and North America. Some species are known by the common names false goat's beard and false spirea. Species range from New Guinea, Java, Borneo, and the Philippines to Indochina, the Himalayas, China, Japan, and the Russian Far East, and to the southeastern United States. These

hardy Hardy may refer to: People * Hardy (surname) * Hardy (given name) * Hardy (singer), American singer-songwriter Places Antarctica * Mount Hardy, Enderby Land * Hardy Cove, Greenwich Island * Hardy Rocks, Biscoe Islands Australia * Hardy, ...

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of ...

perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

s are cultivated by gardeners for their large, handsome, often fern-like foliage and dense, feathery plumes of flowers. They are widely adapted to shade and water-logged conditions, hence they are particularly associated with pond-side planting. They also tolerate clay soils well. Numerous

hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two diff ...

cultivars A cultivar is a kind of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and which retains those traits when propagated. Methods used to propagate cultivars include division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue cult ...

have been raised. Flowers of at least some ''Astilbe'' species have a strong and pleasant aroma. Some species, including ''

Astilbe rivularis ''Astilbe'' is a genus of 18 species of rhizomatous flowering plants within the family Saxifragaceae, native to mountain ravines and woodlands in Asia and North America. Some species are known by the common names false goat's beard and false spi ...

'', are used in traditional medicine.

Species

28 species, and several natural hybrids, are accepted. *''

Astilbe × amabilis ''Astilbe'' is a genus of 18 species of rhizomatous flowering plants within the family Saxifragaceae, native to mountain ravines and woodlands in Asia and North America. Some species are known by the common names false goat's beard and false spi ...

'' *''

Astilbe apoensis ''Astilbe'' is a genus of 18 species of rhizomatous flowering plants within the family Saxifragaceae, native to mountain ravines and woodlands in Asia and North America. Some species are known by the common names false goat's beard and false spi ...

'' *''

Astilbe biternata ''Astilbe'' is a genus of 18 species of rhizomatous flowering plants within the family Saxifragaceae, native to mountain ravines and woodlands in Asia and North America. Some species are known by the common names false goat's beard and false spi ...

'' – Appalachian false goat's beard *''

Astilbe chinensis ''Astilbe chinensis'', commonly known as false goat's beard, tall false-buck's-beard or Chinese astilbe, is a plant in the saxifrage family, Saxifragaceae. It is a perennial herb that grows near shaded streams and rivers. It is also commonly gr ...

'' *''

Astilbe crenatiloba ''Astilbe'' is a genus of 18 species of rhizomatous flowering plants within the family Saxifragaceae, native to mountain ravines and woodlands in Asia and North America. Some species are known by the common names false goat's beard and false spi ...

'' *''

Astilbe formosa ''Astilbe'' is a genus of 18 species of rhizomatous flowering plants within the family Saxifragaceae, native to mountain ravines and woodlands in Asia and North America. Some species are known by the common names false goat's beard and false spi ...

'' *''

Astilbe glaberrima ''Astilbe glaberrima'', called the florist's spiraea and smooth rock astilbe, is a species of flowering plant in the genus ''Astilbe'', native to Yakushima Island, Japan. Some authorities have it as a subspecies of ''Astilbe japonica'', ''Astilb ...

'' *''

Astilbe grandis ''Astilbe'' is a genus of 18 species of rhizomatous flowering plants within the family Saxifragaceae, native to mountain ravines and woodlands in Asia and North America. Some species are known by the common names false goat's beard and false spi ...

'' – Korean false goat's beard *''

Astilbe hachijoensis ''Astilbe'' is a genus of 18 species of rhizomatous flowering plants within the family Saxifragaceae, native to mountain ravines and woodlands in Asia and North America. Some species are known by the common names false goat's beard and false spi ...

'' *''

Astilbe japonica ''Astilbe japonica'', called false buck's beard, is a species of flowering plant in the genus ''Astilbe'', native to Japan, and introduced in New York State. Its hybrid cultivars 'Deutschland', 'Montgomery', and 'Rheinland' have gained the Royal ...

'' *''

Astilbe koreana ''Astilbe'' is a genus of 18 species of rhizomatous flowering plants within the family Saxifragaceae, native to mountain ravines and woodlands in Asia and North America. Some species are known by the common names false goat's beard and false spi ...

'' *''

Astilbe longicarpa ''Astilbe'' is a genus of 18 species of rhizome, rhizomatous flowering plants within the family (biology), family Saxifragaceae, native plant, native to mountain ravines and woodlands in Asia and North America. Some species are known by the comm ...

'' *'' Astilbe longipedicellata'' *'' Astilbe longipilosa'' *'' Astilbe macrocarpa'' *'' Astilbe macroflora'' *'' Astilbe microphylla'' ** ''Astilbe microphylla'' var. ''riparia'' *'' Astilbe okuyamae'' *'' Astilbe papuana'' *'' Astilbe philippinensis'' *'' Astilbe × photeinophylla'' *'' Astilbe platyphylla'' *''

Cultivar groups

Commonly accepted

cultivar A cultivar is a kind of Horticulture, cultivated plant that people have selected for desired phenotypic trait, traits and which retains those traits when Plant propagation, propagated. Methods used to propagate cultivars include division, root a ...

groups are: * ''Astilbe'' Arendsii Group *''Astilbe'' Crispa Group *''Astilbe'' Japonica Group *''Astilbe'' Simplicifolia Group The following varieties and cultivars have gained the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr ...

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. It includes the full range of cultivated p ...

: *'Brautschleier' (Arendsii Group) - white *'Bronce elegans' (Simplicifolia) - salmon pink *''A. chinensis'' var. ''pumila'' - mauve *''A. chinensis'' var. ''taqueti'' 'Purpurlanze' - red/purple *''A. chinensis'' var. ''taqueti'' 'Superba' - rose/mauve *'Fanal' (Arendsii) - crimson *'' A. glaberrima'' var. ''saxatilis'' - pink & white, prostrate *'Rheinland' (Japonica) - pale pink *''A. simplicifolia'' *'Sprite' (Simplicifolia) - pale pink *'Straussenfeder' (Thunbergii) - pink *''A.'' × ''crispa'' 'Perkeo' (pink)

Cultivation

There are three UK National Collections of ''Astilbe'', held by: * Malcolm Pharoah at Marwood Hill Gardens in Marwood, near

Barnstaple Barnstaple ( or ) is a river-port town and civil parish in the North Devon district of Devon, England. The town lies at the River Taw's lowest crossing point before the Bristol Channel. From the 14th century, it was licensed to export wool from ...

North Devon North Devon is a Non-metropolitan district, local government district in Devon, England. Its council is based just outside Barnstaple, the district's largest town. The district also includes the towns of Ilfracombe, Lynton and Lynmouth and Sout ...

. * The Lakeland Horticultural Society at Holehird Gardens in Cumbria. * The

RHS Garden Wisley RHS Garden Wisley is a garden run by the Royal Horticultural Society in Wisley, Surrey, south of London. It is one of five gardens run by the society, the others being Harlow Carr, Hyde Hall, Rosemoor, and Bridgewater (which opened on 18 May ...

in Surrey (cultivars bred by Georg Arends).

References

External links

Flora of China: Astilbe
{{Authority control Saxifragaceae genera