Meaning & use
astilbe
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Meanings
nouncountabletechnical
A plant with fern-like leaves and tall, feathery clusters of small flowers, often grown in gardens for shade.
Grammar: Countable; plural is 'astilbes'.
Patterns
- grow astilbes
- astilbe flowers
- a bed of astilbes
The garden was filled with pink and white astilbes.
Astilbe thrives in moist, shady areas.
She planted astilbes along the north side of the house.
nouncountabletechnical
The dried or cut flower spike of this plant, used in floral arrangements.
Grammar: Often used in the plural when referring to multiple stems.
Patterns
- dried astilbe
- astilbe in a vase
The florist added dried astilbe to the bouquet for texture.
Astilbe makes a long-lasting cut flower.
Word forms
| plural | astilbes |
|---|
Common combinations
- astilbe plant
- The astilbe plant needs regular watering.
- astilbe flowers
- The astilbe flowers bloom in mid-summer.
- grow astilbe
- It's easy to grow astilbe in partial shade.
Synonyms and how they differ
- false goat's beard
- This is another common name for the same plant, but it is less precise and rarely used in formal gardening.
- spirea
- Spirea is a different genus of flowering shrubs; astilbe is a herbaceous perennial, not a shrub.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'astilbe' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Astilbe' is a shade-loving flowering plant, so planting it in a shady area is correct. It is not a fern, does not prefer full sun and dry soil, and is not a vegetable.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “astilbe”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.