Astilbe

Astilbe
Astilbe arendsii in flower
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Core eudicots
Order:	Saxifragales
Family:	Saxifragaceae
Genus:	Astilbe Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don
Species
See text.

Astilbe /əˈstɪlbiː/^[1] is a genus of 18 species of rhizomatous flowering plants, within the family Saxifragaceae, native to mountain ravines and woodland in Asia and North America.^[2] Some species are commonly known as false goat's beard and false spirea.

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.

Species

Species of Astilbe include:

• Astilbe biternata (Vent.) Britt.
• Astilbe chinensis (Maxim.) Franch. & Sav.
• Astilbe crispa (Arends) Bergmans
• Astilbe grandis Stapf ex E. H. Wilson
• Astilbe japonica (C.Morren & Decne.) A.Gray
• Astilbe longicarpa (Hayata) Hayata
• Astilbe macroflora Hayata
• Astilbe microphylla Knoll
  • Astilbe microphylla var. riparia Hatus.
• Astilbe platyphylla H. Boiss.
• Astilbe rivularis Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don (Type species)
  • Astilbe rivularis var. angustifoliolata H. Hara
  • Astilbe rivularis var. myriantha (Diels) J. T. Pan
• Astilbe rubra Hook. f. & Thomson
• Astilbe sikokumontana Koidz.
• Astilbe simplicifolia Makino
• 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

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' (white)[3] 'Bronce elegans' (salmon pink)[4] A. chinensis var. pumila (mauve)[5] 'Fanal' (crimson)[6] A. glaberrima var. saxatilis (pink & white, prostrate)[7]

'Rheinland' (pale pink)[8] A. simplicifolia[9] 'Sprite' (pale pink)[10] 'Straussenfeder' (pink)[11] A. × crispa 'Perkeo' (pink)[12]

References

1. Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
2. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
3. "RHS Plant Selector - Astilbe 'Brautschleier'". Retrieved 8 June 2013.
4. "RHS Plant Selector - Astilbe 'Bronce Elegans'". Retrieved 8 June 2013.
5. "RHS Plant Selector - Astilbe chinensis var. pumila". Retrieved 8 June 2013.
6. "RHS Plant Selector - Astilbe 'Fanal'". Retrieved 8 June 2013.
7. "RHS Plant Selector - Astilbe glaberrima var. saxatilis". Retrieved 8 June 2013.
8. "RHS Plant Selector - Astilbe 'Rheinland'". Retrieved 8 June 2013.
9. "RHS Plant Selector - Astilbe simplicifolia". Retrieved 8 June 2013.
10. "RHS Plant Selector - Astilbe 'Sprite'". Retrieved 8 June 2013.
11. "RHS Plant Selector - Astilbe 'Straussenfeder'". Retrieved 8 June 2013.
12. "RHS Plant Selector - Astilbe 'Perkeo'". Retrieved 8 June 2013.

• Flora of China: Astilbe http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=102968
• Svenskt kulturväxtlexikon http://skud.ngb.se/
• The plants database http://plants.usda.gov/

Other websites

• Astilbe History, Culture, Landscape Use, Pests
• Photos