astilbe (redirected from astilbes)

a·stil·be  (-stlb)

n.

Any of various chiefly eastern Asian perennial herbs of the genus Astilbe, having compound basal leaves and showy panicles of tiny colorful flowers. Also called spirea.

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[New Latin astilb : a- + Greek stilbos, glittering.]

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astilbe [əˈstɪlbɪ]

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Botany) (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any perennial saxifragaceous plant of the genus Astilbe of E Asia and North America: cultivated for their ornamental spikes or panicles of pink or white flowers

[New Latin, from Greek: not glittering, from a-¹ + stilbē, from stilbein to glitter; referring to its inconspicuous individual flowers]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

astilbe - any plant of the genus Astilbe having compound leaves and showy panicles of tiny colorful flowers herb, herbaceous plant - a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests genus Astilbe - chiefly Asiatic perennials: spirea Astilbe biternata, false goatsbeard - North American astilbe with panicles of creamy white flowers Astilbe chinensis pumila, dwarf astilbe - mat-forming evergreen Asiatic plant with finely cut leaves and small pink to burgundy flowers; grown as ground cover Astilbe japonica, spiraea, spirea - a Japanese shrub that resembles members of the genus Spiraea; widely cultivated in many varieties for its dense panicles of flowers in many colors; often forced by florists for Easter blooming