Astilbe

Astilbe /əˈstɪlbiː/^[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
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Saxifragales
Family:	Saxifragaceae
Genus:	Astilbe Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don
Type species
Astilbe rivularis Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don
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

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

• Astilbe × amabilis H.Hara
• Astilbe apoensis Hallier f.
• Astilbe biternata (Vent.) Britton ex Kearney – Appalachian false goat's beard^[5]
• Astilbe chinensis (Maxim.) Franch. & Sav.
• Astilbe crenatiloba (Britton) Small
• Astilbe formosa (Nakai) Nakai
• Astilbe glaberrima Nakai
• Astilbe grandis Stapf ex E.H.Wilson – Korean false goat's beard^[6]
• Astilbe hachijoensis Nakai
• Astilbe japonica (C.Morren & Decne.) A.Gray
• Astilbe koreana (Kom.) Nakai
• Astilbe longicarpa (Hayata) Hayata
• Astilbe longipedicellata (Hatus.) S.Akiyama & Kadota
• Astilbe longipilosa Gilli
• Astilbe macrocarpa Knoll
• Astilbe macroflora Hayata
• Astilbe microphylla Knoll
  • Astilbe microphylla var. riparia Hatus.
• Astilbe okuyamae H.Hara
• Astilbe papuana Schltr.
• Astilbe philippinensis L.Henry
• Astilbe × photeinophylla Koidz.
• Astilbe platyphylla H. Boiss.
• Astilbe rivularis Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don
  • Astilbe rivularis var. angustifoliolata H.Hara
  • Astilbe rivularis var. myriantha (Diels) J.T.Pan
• Astilbe rubra Hook.f. & Thomson – false goat's beard^[6]
• Astilbe shikokiana Nakai
• Astilbe simplicifolia Makino – entire-leaf false goat's beard^[6]
• Astilbe taquetii (H.Lév.) Koidz.
• Astilbe thunbergii (Siebold & Zucc.) Miq.
  • Astilbe thunbergii var. congesta H.Boissieu
  • Astilbe thunbergii var. fujisanensis (Nakai) Ohwi
  • Astilbe thunbergii var. hachijoensis (Nakai) Ohwi
  • Astilbe thunbergii var. kiusiana Hara
  • Astilbe thunbergii var. longipedicellata Hatus.
  • Astilbe thunbergii var. okuyamae (Hara) Ohwi
  • Astilbe thunbergii var. shikokiana (Nakai) Ohwi
  • Astilbe thunbergii var. terrestris (Nakai) Ohwi
• Astilbe tsushimensis Kadota
• Astilbe uljinensis B.U.Oh & H.J.Choi

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^[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

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

• Malcolm Pharoah at Marwood Hill Gardens in Marwood, near Barnstaple, North Devon.^[19][20]
• The Lakeland Horticultural Society at Holehird Gardens in Cumbria. ^[21]
• The Royal Horticultural Society at RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey (cultivars bred by Georg Arends).^[22]