# Horticulture/Astilbe

Astilbe :
| Genus: | Astilbe |
| Family: | Saxifragaceae |
| Type: | Herbaceous perennials |
| Soil requirements: | Moist, well-drained, fertile soils. |
| Pollination: | Insects |
| Root: | Tough, woody rootstocks |
Astilbe is a genus of 18 species perennial, herbaceous flowering plants, within the family Saxifragaceae. Some species are commonly known as False Goat's Beard, and False Spirea. Astilbe species are native Asia and North America.
They are cultivated by gardeners as hardy herbaceous perennials, for their large handsome, often fern-like foliage, and dense, feathery plumes of flowers. They require a peaty soil for their successful cultivation. Numerous hybrids have been raised. The fruit is a 3-lobed capsule which separates into follicles when ripe.

## Description

Clumping perennial herbs with basal and cauline leaves that are 2-3 ternate, with serrate margins. Flowers are tn terminal panicles, perfect or monecious, sepals and petals 4 or 5, stamens 8-10.

## Growing conditions

Good garden soils in sun to dense shade.

## Varieties

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
** 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
Commonly accepted cultivar groups are:
* Astilbe Arendsii Group
* Astilbe Crispa Group
* Astilbe Japonica Group
* Astilbe Simplicifolia Group

## Uses

Grown for their showy flowers and fern-like foliage.

## Maintenance

Very easy to care for, requiring only to be cut back in spring before the new growth emerges

## Propagation

Division.

## Pests and diseases

Bacterial Leaf Spots
Powdery Mildew
Leaf Spots
* Cercospora
Bugs
* Tarnished Plant Bug: Lygus lineolaris
* Fourlined Plant Bug: Poecilocapsus lineatus
Beetles
* Oriental Beetle: Exomala orientalis
Weevils
* Black Vine Weevil: Otiorhynchus sulcatus
Caterpillars
* Saddleback Caterpillar: Sibine stimulea

## References

* 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/
* P. D. Strausbaugh and Earl L. Core (1977). Flora of West Virginia (Second ed.). Seneca Books, Grantsville, W. Virginia. p. 446.
* Christopher Brickell and Judith D. Zuk (1997). The American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. DK Publishing. pp. 151–152.
* Staff of the L. H. Bailey Hortorium (1976). Hortus Third: A Concise Dictionary of Plants Cultivated in the United States and Canada. Cornell University Press. pp. 125–126.
* Cranshaw, Whitney (2004). Garden Insects of North America: The Ultimate Guide to Backyard Bugs. Princeton University Press. p. 581.
* Pippa Greenwood, Andrew Halstead, A.R. Chase, Daniel Gilrein (2000). American Horticultural Society Pests & Diseases: The Complete Guide to Preventing, Identifying, and Treating Plant Problems (First Edition ed.). Dorling Kindersley (DK) Publishing, inc. p. 198. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)