Gerald L. Klingaman
Family
Rosaceae
Botanical Name
Aruncus dioicus
Plant Common Name
Bride's Feathers, Goat's Beard
General Description
A mound of ferny leaves and tall white plumes make goat's beard a lovely accent plant. It is an upright, tall perennial of woodlands in circumboreal regions-- native to eastern North America as well as Europe and across Siberia into eastern Asia.
The mid- to dark green leaves are large, and made up of many small oval leaflets that have teeth on their edges. Collectively they produce a lovely fern-like texture. In early and midsummer, tall stems tower above the leaves and produce creamy white male-gendered flowers or more dropping greenish white female flowers. Goat's beard is dioecious, meaning plants are either male or female in gender. In general, the male plants produce much showier plumes of flowers.
Grow goat's beard in average to moist soils in partial sun to full shade. In warmer summer regions, soils require more water when plants are growing; in cool summer areas full sun exposures are possible. Use it in the background of a woodland border or garden. In masses it is spectacular in bloom along a stream or pond shoreline. The flowers are great cut fresh or dried and used in arrangements.
Characteristics
-
AHS Heat Zone
7 - 1
-
USDA Hardiness Zone
3 - 7
-
Sunset Zone
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17
-
Plant Type
Perennial
-
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial Shade, Full Shade
-
Height
4'-6' / 1.2m - 1.8m
-
Width
2'-4' / 0.6m - 1.2m
-
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer
-
Native To
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, Canada, Europe, Eastern Europe, Northern Europe, Western Europe, Russia/Siberia
Growing Conditions
-
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
-
Soil Drainage
Average
-
Soil type
Clay, Loam
-
Growth Rate
Medium
-
Water Requirements
Average Water
-
Habit
Upright/Erect
-
Seasonal Interest
Summer
Ornamental Features
-
Flower Interest
Showy
-
Fragrant Flowers
No
-
Fragrant Fruit
No
-
Fragrant Foliage
No
-
Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
-
Repeat Bloomer
No
-
Showy Fruit
Yes
-
Showy Foliage
Yes
-
Evergreen
No
-
Showy Bark
No
