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
Word origin
C19: New Latin, from Greek: not glittering, from a-1 + stilbē, from stilbein to glitter; referring to its inconspicuous individual flowers
astilbe in American English
(əˈstɪlbi)
noun
any of a genus (Astilbe) of herbaceous, perennial plants of the saxifrage family, usually having spikes of white, pink, or red flowers