This is the only Astilbe native to North America, and she is much taller than her Asian sisters of 17 other species. This Appalachian False Goatsbeard in the Saxifage Family is very similar to appearance to the American Goatsbeard of Aruncus dioicus in the Rose Family. There are some plants planted at Jenkins Arboretum in southeast Pennsylvania that I walked by for years thinking --"I already have photos of Goatsbeard," and then I just saw a good label saying what it really is. The best way to tell the difference between False Goatsbeard vs Goatsbeard (Aruncus) is that the former has a 3-lobed terminal leaflet on the end of the large compound leaves while the latter has an unlobed terminal leaflet. This Astilbe also has 10 stamens and 2 pistils in the flowers while the Goatsbeard has 15 to 20 stamens and 3 pistils. False Goatsbeard forms a colony that spreads by rhizomes, underground stems. This species is native from Maryland & West Virginia down to northern Georgia & Mississippi. She grows in rich mountain woods and seepage slopes. She is a very pretty perennial! There are a few native plant and specialty nurseries that sell this plant, but I don't know of any conventional ones that do.

Reply to this comment