Astilbe biternata (False goatsbeard)

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Astilbe biternata (Vent.) Britton

False goatsbeard

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Rosales	Rose family and eight others
Family	Saxifragaceae	Saxifrage family; means “stone-breaking”
Genus	Astilbe	Greek for “not shining”
Species	biternata	Refers to doubly-divided leaves

About plant names...

False goatsbeard is so named because it bears an uncanny resemblance to “real” goatsbeard, Aruncus dioicus. Both names refer to the flower masses, whose shape somewhat resembles a goat’s beard. False goatsbeard is native to North America, and prefers shady habitats and damp soil.

Plants: Plants are 2-6′ (60-182 cm) high, and dioecious, having separate male and female plants.

Leaves: Bright green, coarse, up to 2′ (60 cm) long, bipinnate or tripinnate, with ovate leaflets. Leaflets are 3-6″ (8-15 cm) × 1½-6″ (4-15 cm). Leaf edges are toothed: sharply serrate to crenate. The terminal leaflet has three lobes.

Flowers: Long, thin, feathery cream-colored or yellowish sprays of tiny florets, like white fireworks displays. Florets have 5 petals, and ten stamens. Blooms appear from late spring to early summer.

Fruits: Fruits usually have two carpels, and are ~⅛″ (3.5-4 mm) in size.

These species are closely similar, so much so that they are often cited as prime examples of convergent evolution. They prefer the same habitats and are often found growing side-by-side:

5/22/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 2 × 1½′ (71 × 47 cm)

5/22/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 1 × 1½′ (34 × 52 cm)

	*Aruncus dioicus var. dioicus*	You are here Astilbe biternata
Common Name	goatsbeard	false goatsbeard
Plant	In clumps several feet around. Thin, stiff stems support leaf clusters topped by showy sprays of white flowers.	2-6′ (60-182 cm) high, and dioecious.
Flowers	Long, thin, feathery cream-colored sprays of tiny florets. Male flowers are somewhat more showy. Each floret has *15-20 stamens* and 3-5 pistils.	Long, thin, feathery cream-colored or yellowish sprays of tiny florets, like white fireworks displays. Florets have 5 petals, and *ten stamens*. Blooms appear from late spring to early summer.
Leaves	Bipinnate or tripinnate, with 20 or more toothed (dentate), opposite, oval leaflets. Individual leaflets are 1-5″ (2.5-12 cm) long.	Bright green, coarse, up to 2′ (60 cm) long, bipinnate or tripinnate, with ovate leaflets. Leaflets are 3-6″ (8-15 cm) × 1½-6″ (4-15 cm). *The terminal leaflet has three lobes.*
Fruit	Female plants produce *three carpels* with tiny brown seed capsules.	Usually have *two carpels*, and are ~⅛″ (3.5-4 mm) in size.
Range/ Zones	USDA Zones: 3-8	USDA Zones: 5-8
Habitats	Moist wooded areas, fields, roadsides, and waste areas.	Shady habitats and damp soil.
Type	Wild	Wild

Online References:

Discover Life

Plants.ces.ncsu.edu

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Wildflowers of the United States

EFloras

Astilbe biternata description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

Range: Zones 5-8:

About this map...