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 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 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.

Species

28 species, and several natural hybrids, are accepted.

• Astilbe × amabilis

• Astilbe apoensis

• Astilbe biternata – Appalachian false goat's beard

• Astilbe chinensis

• Astilbe crenatiloba

• Astilbe formosa

• Astilbe glaberrima

• Astilbe grandis – Korean false goat's beard

• Astilbe hachijoensis

• Astilbe japonica

• Astilbe koreana

• Astilbe longicarpa

• Astilbe longipedicellata

• Astilbe longipilosa

• Astilbe macrocarpa

• Astilbe macroflora

Astilbe microphylla

• Astilbe microphylla var. riparia

• Astilbe okuyamae

• Astilbe papuana

• Astilbe philippinensis

• Astilbe × photeinophylla

• Astilbe platyphylla

Astilbe rivularis

• Astilbe rivularis var. angustifoliolata

• Astilbe rivularis var. myriantha

• Astilbe rubra – false goat's beard

• Astilbe shikokiana

• Astilbe simplicifolia – entire-leaf false goat's beard

• Astilbe taquetii

Astilbe thunbergii

• Astilbe thunbergii var. congesta

• Astilbe thunbergii var. fujisanensis

• Astilbe thunbergii var. hachijoensis

• Astilbe thunbergii var. kiusiana

• Astilbe thunbergii var. longipedicellata

• Astilbe thunbergii var. okuyamae

• Astilbe thunbergii var. shikokiana

• Astilbe thunbergii var. terrestris

• Astilbe tsushimensis

• Astilbe uljinensis

Cultivar groups

Commonly accepted cultivar 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'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

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

• Malcolm Pharaoh at Marwood Hill Gardens in Marwood, near Barnstaple, North Devon.

• The Lakeland Horticultural Society at Holehird Gardens in Cumbria.

• The Royal Horticultural Society at RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey (cultivars bred by Georg Arends).

References

External links

• Flora of China: Astilbe