The name of this flower comes from the Greek words for without (a-) amd brillance (stilbo) referring to the flowers’ lack of brillance. I‘d say that‘s a rather subjective depiction.

The weird thing about astilbes is the utter lack of symmetry of the flower plumes which is kind of uncommon in plants. But maybe that‘s what makes you notice an astilbe in the garden. So much for lack of brilliance, huh?