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Astilbe Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don.

Saxifragaceae

  Astilbe hybrid: stem  
Synonym

Sometimes called Spiraea (Rosaceae)

Common names

false goat's beard, false spiraea

Species cultivated

Most commonly cultivated (many hybrids)

Astilbe xarendsii Arends.

A. xhybrida hort. ex Ievinya & Lusinya

A. xjaponica

A. xrosea Van Waveren & Kruyff.

A. xthunbergii

Other species

A. chinensis (Maxim.) Franch. var. taquetii (Lév.) Vilm.

A. davidii (Franch.) L. Henry1

A. myriantha Diels1

A. simplicifolia Mak.

Origin

North America, east Asia.

Brief characterization

Compound, 2- to 3-ternate leaves with noticeably swollen petiolule joints and sharply and irregularly toothed leaflets; generally triangular-shaped panicles of spike-like spires bearing numerous, very small (ca. 5 mm across) bisexual or unisexual flowers with usually 5 sepals and 5 petals; bisexual flowers with 10 stamens and up to 3 separate pistils.

Cultivar and/or species variation

Panicles dense to open, with spires arching to erect; flowers in various shades of red, pink, and white; foliage green to purple.

Countries exporting

Niger.

Astilbe hybrid: inflorescence, branch

Astilbe hybrid: inflorescence, closeup


 
Astilbe hybrid: flower in two views

Astilbe hybrid: compound leaf

Astilbe xarendsii
Photo: © George Whiting, Temple University

Astilbe xarendsii
Photo: © George Whiting, Temple University
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