Astilbe


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.

Cultivar groups

Commonly accepted cultivar groups are:
The following varieties and cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:
  • 'Brautschleier' - white
  • 'Bronce elegans' - salmon pink
  • A. chinensis var. pumila - mauve
  • A. chinensis var. taqueti 'Purpurlanze' - red/purple
  • A. chinensis var. taqueti 'Superba' - rose/mauve
  • 'Fanal' - crimson
  • A. glaberrima var. saxatilis - pink & white, prostrate
  • 'Rheinland' - pale pink
  • A. simplicifolia
  • 'Sprite' - pale pink
  • 'Straussenfeder' - pink
  • A. × crispa 'Perkeo'

Cultivation

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