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Astilbe chinensis

Common name:		Family:	Saxifragaceae
Author:	(Maxim.)Franch.&Sav.	Botanical references:	74, 200, 266
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	E. Asia - E. China, Japan, Korea.
Habitat:	Damp woods and along shady streams[187]. Open broad-leaved forests, forest edges and amongst shrubs[74]. Forests, forest margins, meadows, valleys and riversides, 400 - 3600 metres[266].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	1	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	0

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	A. chinensis var. pumila[G] A. taquetii[G] Hoteia chinensis[G]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Ch'Ang Shan [E], False Goat's Beard [H],
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Rosales. Saxifrage family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	China

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 0.7m by 0.5m . It is hardy to zone 5. It is in flower from July to August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. We rate it 1/5 for edibility and 0/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It requires moist or wet soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Bog Garden, Woodland, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge.

Edible Uses

Leaves.

Young shoots[177]. No more details are given.

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

None known

Other Uses

A first class ground cover plant, the lower-growing cultivar 'Pumila' is particularly recommended[233].

Cultivation details

Prefers a rich garden soil, but succeeds in most soils so long as they stay reliably moist in the summer[1, 233]. Requires a wet or moist peaty soil in sun or partial shade[187], growing well under shrubs[233]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 to 7[200]. Prefers partial shade[200], especially if the soil is on the dry side[233].
Plants are hardy to about -20°c[187].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[233].
There are some named varieties, selected for their ornamental value[233].

Propagation

Seed - we have no details for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in early spring. Only just cover the seed. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame until they are at least 20cm tall. Plant them out in the summer, or late in the following autumn.
Division in spring. This is best done every 3 - 4 years in order to maintain the vigour of the plant[200]. Larger divisions can be planted straight into their permanent positions whist smaller clumps are best potted up and kept in a cold frame until they are growing away well.

Cultivars

'Pumila': A dwarf form growing only 25cm tall[200], this cultivar is particularly recommended or ground cover[233].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for the family Saxifragaceae.

[CHINA] Data Very detailed botanical/identification info. from the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[74] Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers.

[177] Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[187] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991 ISBN 0-330-30936-9
Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[233] Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.

[266] Flora of China 1994
On-line version of the Flora - an excellent resource giving basic info on habitat and some uses.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
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