astilbe

[ uh-stil-bee ]

noun

1. any plant of the genus Astilbe, of the saxifrage family, having spirelike clusters of small white, pink, or reddish flowers.

astilbe

/ əˈstɪlbɪ /

noun

1. 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 History and Origins

Origin of astilbe¹

1825; < New Latin, equivalent to a- a- ⁶ + Greek stilbḗ, feminine of stilbós glittering

Word History and Origins

Origin of astilbe¹

C19: New Latin, from Greek: not glittering, from a- ¹+ stilbē, from stilbein to glitter; referring to its inconspicuous individual flowers