Astilbe

{{short description|Genus of flowering plants}} {{Automatic taxobox |image = Astilbe arendsii1.jpg |image_caption = ''Astilbe arendsii'' in flower |taxon = Astilbe |authority = Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don |subdivision_ranks = Species |subdivision = 28; see text |subdivision_ref = <ref name = powo>[https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:36952-1 ''Astilbe'' Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don]. ''Plants of the World Online''. Retrieved 13 April 2024.</ref> |type_species = ''Astilbe rivularis'' | type_species_authority = Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don |synonyms = ''Hoteia'' {{small|C.Morren & Decne. (1834)}} |synonyms_ref = <ref name = powo/> }}

'''''Astilbe''''' {{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|s|t|ɪ|l|b|iː}}<ref>''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book|title=RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants|year=2008|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=United Kingdom|isbn=978-1405332965|pages=1136}}</ref> 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.<ref name = powo/>

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.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=O'Neill |first1=Alexander |display-authors=etal |date=2017-03-29 |title=Integrating ethnobiological knowledge into biodiversity conservation in the Eastern Himalayas |url= |journal=Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine |volume=13 |issue=21 |page=21 |doi=10.1186/s13002-017-0148-9 |pmc=5372287 |pmid=28356115 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Species== 28 species, and several natural hybrids, are accepted.<ref name = powo/> *''Astilbe × amabilis'' {{small|H.Hara}} *''Astilbe apoensis'' {{small|Hallier f.}} *''Astilbe biternata'' {{small|(Vent.) Britton ex Kearney}} – Appalachian false goat's beard<ref>[https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=24305#null ''Astilbe biternata'' (Vent.) Britton ex Kearney. Retrieved April, 15, 2021, from the Integrated Taxonomic Information System on-line database, http://www.itis.gov.]</ref> *''Astilbe chinensis'' {{small|(Maxim.) Franch. & Sav.}} *''Astilbe crenatiloba'' {{small|(Britton) Small}} *''Astilbe formosa'' {{small|(Nakai) Nakai}} *''Astilbe glaberrima'' {{small|Nakai}} *''Astilbe grandis'' {{small|Stapf ex E.H.Wilson}} – Korean false goat's beard<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=http://www.forest.go.kr/kna/special/download/English_Names_for_Korean_Native_Plants.pdf |title=English Names for Korean Native Plants |publisher=Korea National Arboretum |year=2015 |isbn=978-89-97450-98-5 |location=Pocheon |pages=367 |access-date=24 December 2016 |via=Korea Forest Service |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525105020/http://www.forest.go.kr/kna/special/download/English_Names_for_Korean_Native_Plants.pdf |archive-date=25 May 2017 }}</ref> *''Astilbe hachijoensis'' {{small|Nakai}} *''Astilbe japonica'' {{small|(C.Morren & Decne.) A.Gray}} *''Astilbe koreana'' {{small|(Kom.) Nakai}} *''Astilbe longicarpa'' {{small|(Hayata) Hayata}} *''Astilbe longipedicellata'' {{small|(Hatus.) S.Akiyama & Kadota}} *''Astilbe longipilosa'' {{small|Gilli}} *''Astilbe macrocarpa'' {{small|Knoll}} *''Astilbe macroflora'' {{small|Hayata}} *''Astilbe microphylla'' {{small|Knoll}} **''Astilbe microphylla'' var. ''riparia'' {{small|Hatus.}} *''Astilbe okuyamae'' {{small|H.Hara}} *''Astilbe papuana'' {{small|Schltr.}} *''Astilbe philippinensis'' {{small|L.Henry}} *''Astilbe × photeinophylla'' {{small|Koidz.}} *''Astilbe platyphylla'' {{small|H. Boiss.}} *''Astilbe rivularis'' {{small|Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don}} **''Astilbe rivularis'' var. ''angustifoliolata'' {{small|H.Hara}} **''Astilbe rivularis'' var. ''myriantha'' {{small|(Diels) J.T.Pan}} *''Astilbe rubra'' {{small|Hook.f. & Thomson}} – false goat's beard<ref name=":0" /> *''Astilbe shikokiana'' {{small|Nakai}} *''Astilbe simplicifolia'' {{small|Makino}} – entire-leaf false goat's beard<ref name=":0" /> *''Astilbe taquetii'' {{small|(H.Lév.) Koidz.}} *''Astilbe thunbergii'' {{small|(Siebold & Zucc.) Miq.}} **''Astilbe thunbergii'' var. ''congesta'' {{small|H.Boissieu}} **''Astilbe thunbergii'' var. ''fujisanensis'' {{small|(Nakai) Ohwi}} **''Astilbe thunbergii'' var. ''hachijoensis'' {{small|(Nakai) Ohwi}} **''Astilbe thunbergii'' var. ''kiusiana'' {{small|Hara}} **''Astilbe thunbergii'' var. ''longipedicellata'' {{small|Hatus.}} **''Astilbe thunbergii'' var. ''okuyamae'' {{small|(Hara) Ohwi}} **''Astilbe thunbergii'' var. ''shikokiana'' {{small|(Nakai) Ohwi}} **''Astilbe thunbergii'' var. ''terrestris'' {{small|(Nakai) Ohwi}} *''Astilbe tsushimensis'' {{small|Kadota}} *''Astilbe uljinensis'' {{small|B.U.Oh & H.J.Choi}}

==Cultivar groups== Commonly accepted cultivar groups are: {{div col|colwidth=20em}} *''Astilbe'' Arendsii Group *''Astilbe'' Crispa Group *''Astilbe'' Japonica Group *''Astilbe'' Simplicifolia Group {{div col end}}

The following varieties and cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit: {{div col|colwidth=20em}} *'Brautschleier' (Arendsii Group) - white<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - ''Astilbe'' 'Brautschleier'|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/112600/Astilbe-Brautschleier-(%25C3%2597-arendsii)/Details | access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> *'Bronce elegans' (Simplicifolia) - salmon pink<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - ''Astilbe'' 'Bronce Elegans'|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/90688/Astilbe-Bronce-Elegans-(simplicifolia-hybrid)/Details | access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> *''A. chinensis'' var. ''pumila'' - mauve<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - ''Astilbe chinensis'' var. ''pumila''|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/54603/Astilbe-chinensis-var-pumila/Details | access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> *''A. chinensis'' var. ''taqueti'' 'Purpurlanze' - red/purple<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/112790/Astilbe-chinensis-var-taquetii-Purpurlanze/Details | title = ''A. chinensis'' var. ''taqueti'' 'Purpulanze' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 12 April 2020}}</ref> *''A. chinensis'' var. ''taqueti'' 'Superba'<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/89593/Astilbe-chinensis-var-taquetii-Superba/Details | title = ''A. chinensis'' var. taqueti 'Superba' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 12 April 2020}}</ref> - rose/mauve *'Fanal' (Arendsii) - crimson<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - ''Astilbe'' 'Fanal'|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/95205/Astilbe-Fanal-(%25C3%2597-arendsii)/Details | access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> *''A. glaberrima'' var. ''saxatilis'' - pink & white, prostrate<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - ''Astilbe glaberrima'' var. ''saxatilis''|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/95706/Astilbe-glaberrima-var-saxatilis/Details | access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> *'Rheinland' (Japonica) - pale pink<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - ''Astilbe'' 'Rheinland'|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/97102/Astilbe-Rheinland-(japonica-hybrid)/Details | access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> *''A. simplicifolia''<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - ''Astilbe simplicifolia''|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/1841/Astilbe-simplicifolia/Details | access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> *'Sprite' (Simplicifolia) - pale pink<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - ''Astilbe'' 'Sprite'|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/93253/Astilbe-Sprite-(simplicifolia-hybrid)/Details | access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> *'Straussenfeder' (Thunbergii) - pink<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - ''Astilbe'' 'Straussenfeder'|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/94693/Astilbe-Straussenfeder-(thunbergii-hybrid)/Details | access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> *''A.'' × ''crispa'' 'Perkeo' (pink)<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - ''Astilbe'' 'Perkeo'|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/98049/Astilbe-x-crispa-Perkeo/Details | access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> {{div col end}}

==Cultivation== There are three UK National Collections of ''Astilbe'', held by: * Malcolm Pharaoh at Marwood Hill Gardens in Marwood, near Barnstaple, North Devon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marwoodhillgarden.co.uk/national-collections.html|title = National Plant Collections}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.floraldaily.com/article/9239527/uk-national-plant-collection-of-astilbe-yields-brickell-award-2020/|title=UK: National Plant Collection of Astilbe yields Brickell Award 2020|date=12 August 2020 }}</ref> * The Lakeland Horticultural Society at Holehird Gardens in Cumbria.<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Collection - Astilbe |url=https://holehirdgardens.org.uk/plants/national-collection-astilbe |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=Holehird}}</ref> * The Royal Horticultural Society at RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey (cultivars bred by Georg Arends).<ref>{{cite web |title=National Plant Collections |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/plantsmanship/national-plant-collections |publisher=Royal Horticultural Society |access-date=16 October 2023}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|34em}}

==External links== {{Commons}} *[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=102968 Flora of China: Astilbe]

Category:Astilbe Category:Saxifragaceae genera