Aruncus dioicus

Common Names

Goat's Beard, Goatsbeard, Bride's Feathers, Buck's Beard, Eastern Goat's Beard

Summary

Goat’s beard is a tall, clump-forming perennial with dark green, pinnately compound foliage and tall, plume-like cream-white flower panicles that rise above the foliage in late spring to early summer; it is dioecious, with separate male and female plants, and male blooms are typically more erect and showy, with plants reaching about 4–6 ft tall and 2–4 ft wide, often resembling Astilbe, native to Europe, Asia, and North America, and it attracts bees and butterflies.

It prefers moist, fertile soils rich in organic matter and performs best in full sun in cooler areas or partial shade in hotter locations; hardy in zones 3–7; spacing about 2–4 ft apart; slow to establish but generally pest- and disease-free and resistant to deer and rabbits; propagation by division in spring or autumn or by seed; prune spent flower stalks after blooming; landscape uses include shady, moist borders, woodland gardens, near water features such as ponds or streams, rain gardens, or as a tall background plant in borders.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

4-6 feet

Spread

2-7 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-7

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun or partial shade; climate-dependent: full sun in cool climates, partial shade in warmer climates.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained loamy soil rich in organic matter.

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil.

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

White to Creamy white

Bloom Time

Summer

Foliage Color

Green (bright green in spring; dark green in summer; yellow to golden-yellow in autumn)

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow to golden-yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow growth; typically 3–5 years to reach full size.

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds