Pollinator plant

False-buck's-beard

Astilbe japonica

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Common names

16 names · 10 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Astilbe[4]
  • False Goat's Beard[4]
  • False Spirea[4]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (9)
Dutch
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 日本落新妇[3]
Finnish
  • kivikkojaloangervo[3]
German
  • Japanische Prachtspiere[1]
  • Scheingeißbart[2][3]
Japanese
  • アワモリショウマ[3]
Norwegian
Russian
  • Астильбе японская[3]
Slovak
  • astilba japonská[3]
Swedish
  • silverastilbe[3]
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Astilbe japonica ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Florist's spiraea — VernacularName.tsv, line 174175; taxon HV8L.
  • False-buck's-beard (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 174174; taxon HV8L.
  • Japanische Prachtspiere (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 174176; taxon HV8L.
[2] Astilbe japonica — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Scheingeißbart — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 158812; Astilbe japonica.
  • False-buck's-beard — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 158812; Astilbe japonica.
  • Pluimspirea — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 158812; Astilbe japonica.
[3] Astilbe japonica — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Scheingeißbart — results[7].names[3]; taxon id 158812; Astilbe japonica.
  • False-buck's-beard — results[7].names[1]; taxon id 158812; Astilbe japonica.
  • Pluimspirea — results[7].names[7]; taxon id 158812; Astilbe japonica.
  • japanspir — results[7].names[2]; taxon id 158812; Astilbe japonica.
  • silverastilbe — results[7].names[4]; taxon id 158812; Astilbe japonica.
  • アワモリショウマ — results[7].names[5]; taxon id 158812; Astilbe japonica.
  • Астильбе японская — results[7].names[6]; taxon id 158812; Astilbe japonica.
  • kivikkojaloangervo — results[7].names[8]; taxon id 158812; Astilbe japonica.
  • astilba japonská — results[7].names[9]; taxon id 158812; Astilbe japonica.
  • 日本落新妇 — results[7].names[10]; taxon id 158812; Astilbe japonica.
[4] Astilbe japonica — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Astilbe — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Astilbe japonica.
  • False Goat's Beard — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Astilbe japonica.
  • False Spirea — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Astilbe japonica.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Astilbe japonica is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Saxifragaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.46–0.76 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.46–0.76 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Arching; Clumping; Spreading

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day); Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
Japan (SW. Honshu, Kyushu).

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Low
Plant profile

About this plant

Florist's spiraea (Astilbe japonica) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from May to June.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Astilbe japonica — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 4875281; ID HV8L; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 4875281; ID HV8L; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Astilbe japonica — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Astilbe japonica — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1313853; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1186209

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.