Astilbe
Genus of flowering plants
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
