Astilbe /əˈstɪlb/[2] 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.[3] Some species are known by the common names false goat's beard and false spirea.

Astilbe
Astilbe arendsii in flower
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Saxifragaceae
Genus: Astilbe
Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don
Type species
Astilbe rivularis
Species[1]

28; see text

Synonyms[1]

Hoteia C.Morren & Decne. (1834)

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.[1]

These hardy herbaceous perennials 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 cultivars have been raised. Flowers of at least some Astilbe species have a strong and pleasant aroma. Some species, including Astilbe rivularis, are used in traditional medicine.[4]

Species edit

28 species, and several natural hybrids, are accepted.[1]

Cultivar groups edit

Commonly accepted cultivar groups are:

The following varieties and cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:

  • 'Brautschleier' (Arendsii Group) - white[7]
  • 'Bronce elegans' (Simplicifolia) - salmon pink[8]
  • A. chinensis var. pumila - mauve[9]
  • A. chinensis var. taqueti 'Purpurlanze' - red/purple[10]
  • A. chinensis var. taqueti 'Superba'[11] - rose/mauve
  • 'Fanal' (Arendsii) - crimson[12]
  • A. glaberrima var. saxatilis - pink & white, prostrate[13]
  • 'Rheinland' (Japonica) - pale pink[14]
  • A. simplicifolia[15]
  • 'Sprite' (Simplicifolia) - pale pink[16]
  • 'Straussenfeder' (Thunbergii) - pink[17]
  • A. × crispa 'Perkeo' (pink)[18]

Cultivation edit

There are three UK National Collections of Astilbe, held by:

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Astilbe Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  2. ^ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
  3. ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  4. ^ O'Neill, Alexander; et al. (2017-03-29). "Integrating ethnobiological knowledge into biodiversity conservation in the Eastern Himalayas". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 13 (21): 21. doi:10.1186/s13002-017-0148-9. PMC 5372287. PMID 28356115.
  5. ^ Astilbe biternata (Vent.) Britton ex Kearney. Retrieved April, 15, 2021, from the Integrated Taxonomic Information System on-line database, http://www.itis.gov.
  6. ^ a b c English Names for Korean Native Plants (PDF). Pocheon: Korea National Arboretum. 2015. p. 367. ISBN 978-89-97450-98-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2016 – via Korea Forest Service.
  7. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Astilbe 'Brautschleier'". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  8. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Astilbe 'Bronce Elegans'". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  9. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Astilbe chinensis var. pumila". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  10. ^ "A. chinensis var. taqueti 'Purpulanze'". RHS. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  11. ^ "A. chinensis var. taqueti 'Superba'". RHS. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  12. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Astilbe 'Fanal'". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  13. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Astilbe glaberrima var. saxatilis". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  14. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Astilbe 'Rheinland'". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  15. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Astilbe simplicifolia". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  16. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Astilbe 'Sprite'". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  17. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Astilbe 'Straussenfeder'". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  18. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Astilbe 'Perkeo'". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  19. ^ "National Plant Collections".
  20. ^ "UK: National Plant Collection of Astilbe yields Brickell Award 2020". 12 August 2020.
  21. ^ "National Collection - Astilbe". Holehird. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  22. ^ "National Plant Collections". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 16 October 2023.

External links edit