(1834) 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.

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.

[1] Commonly accepted cultivar groups are: The following varieties and cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit: There are three UK National Collections of Astilbe, held by: