''Astilbe'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of 18

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

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 ho ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s within the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Saxifragaceae Saxifragaceae is a family of herbaceous perennial flowering plants, within the core eudicot order Saxifragales. The taxonomy of the family has been greatly revised and the scope much reduced in the era of molecular phylogenetic analysis. The fa ...

native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Native Americans (disambiguation) In arts and entert ...

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. These hardy herbaceous

perennials A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also widel ...

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 dif ...

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.

Species

Species of ''Astilbe'' include: *'' Astilbe biternata'' (Vent.) Britton ex Kearney – Appalachian false goat's beard *'' Astilbe chinensis'' (Maxim.) Franch. & Sav. *''

Astilbe crispa ''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 ...

'' (Arends) Bergmans *'' Astilbe glaberrima'' Nakai *'' Astilbe grandis'' Stapf ex E. H. Wilson – Korean false goat's beard *'' Astilbe japonica'' ( C.Morren & Decne.) A.Gray *'' Astilbe longicarpa'' (Hayata) Hayata *'' Astilbe macroflora'' Hayata *'' Astilbe microphylla'' Knoll ** ''Astilbe microphylla'' var. ''riparia'' Hatus. *''

Astilbe platyphylla ''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 ...

Cultivar groups

Commonly accepted

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

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 (Nor ...

's Award of Garden Merit: *'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

The UK National Collection of Astilbe is held by Malcolm Pharoah at Marwood Hill Gardens in Marwood, near Barnstaple, North Devon.

References

External links

Flora of China: Astilbe
{{Authority control Saxifragaceae genera