Goat's Beard (Aruncus dioicus)
If you're a New England gardener looking for a large-impact shade perennial that blooms in early summer, you can't go wrong with Goat's Beard (Aruncus dioicus). Perfect for a partly-shaded woodland edge, its creamy white flowers are especially striking contrasted with a darker background:
Native to the rich woods of Pennsylvania southward, Goat's Beard grows quickly in spring from a woody crown, with flowering stems that can reach 6' in moist soil. Flowering in late June in my zone 5b central Massachusetts garden, Goat's Beard seems to do best with about half a day of morning sunshine. It usually takes a few years to get established, but once mature, it fills a good size area, so give it plenty of room.
Don't confuse the native Goat's Beard to the commonly planted Astilbe, which is also sometimes called Goatsbeard. Astilbe is much shorter than the native Aruncus, growing only about 2'.
Goat's Beard is a good plant for New England habitat gardens...its flowers are an absolute magnet to hordes of beneficial pollinating insects, and its long seed tassels persist well into winter. Don't these winter seed stems look like a nice meal for birds?
Aruncus dioicus is dioecious, which means that there are male and female plants. Only the female plants produce the seed heads, and their flowers are slightly showier than the males, so plant several Goat's Beard at a time to ensure that you have at least one female plant. Even if you are lucky enough to find this plant for sale in a nursery, you'll probably get some blank stares if you ask what sex they are! In central MA, this plant is available at Bigelow Nurseries in Northborough as well as Garden in the Woods in Framingham.
Native to the rich woods of Pennsylvania southward, Goat's Beard grows quickly in spring from a woody crown, with flowering stems that can reach 6' in moist soil. Flowering in late June in my zone 5b central Massachusetts garden, Goat's Beard seems to do best with about half a day of morning sunshine. It usually takes a few years to get established, but once mature, it fills a good size area, so give it plenty of room.
Don't confuse the native Goat's Beard to the commonly planted Astilbe, which is also sometimes called Goatsbeard. Astilbe is much shorter than the native Aruncus, growing only about 2'.
Goat's Beard is a good plant for New England habitat gardens...its flowers are an absolute magnet to hordes of beneficial pollinating insects, and its long seed tassels persist well into winter. Don't these winter seed stems look like a nice meal for birds?
Aruncus dioicus is dioecious, which means that there are male and female plants. Only the female plants produce the seed heads, and their flowers are slightly showier than the males, so plant several Goat's Beard at a time to ensure that you have at least one female plant. Even if you are lucky enough to find this plant for sale in a nursery, you'll probably get some blank stares if you ask what sex they are! In central MA, this plant is available at Bigelow Nurseries in Northborough as well as Garden in the Woods in Framingham.
Posted by Ellen Sousa at 2/16/2010 3:19 PM 
Categories: Shade plants, Plants for pollinators, Winter bird gardens, New England gardening for birds, Pollinator-friendly gardens, Habitat Gardening
Tags: Aruncus dioicus Goat's Beard
Categories: Shade plants, Plants for pollinators, Winter bird gardens, New England gardening for birds, Pollinator-friendly gardens, Habitat Gardening
Tags: Aruncus dioicus Goat's Beard
I just wish I had some shade, but maybe this would be adaptable to more sun.It's worth a try, don't you think.
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Pat, definitely worth a try! As long as the soil is sufficiently moist, Aruncus should be able to handle more sun in your neck of the woods...anything but harsh afternoon (western) sun, which will crinkle the leaves...
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I just love the flowery plumes of Goat's Beard, and look forward to planting some in the spring. Yours are just beautiful, and what presence! I didn't realize the flower heads were different on male and female plants, so I thank you for this information, and will take extra care when selecting mine.
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I have only a little spot of shade, so I planted dwarf goatsbeard (Aruncus aethusifolius). While they have the astilbe-like blooms you show in this post, they really underwhelm... maybe just too dwarf? Maybe really slow to establish as you note? I wish I had room for the big frothy plant you have!
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Laurrie - I have also had no luck with the dwarf goatsbeard - it grows but has never bloomed for me, and it's in a spot very close to the A. dioicus! I believe aethusifolius is native to Korea, perhaps it's just not as well adapted to these climes as the dioicus.
I should have tagged the photo's location - the flowering Aruncus dioicus pictured is actually at Arnold Arboretum in Boston, in front of the main admin building.
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So glad for the tip as I love enjoying our pollinators and have alot of shade and am always starting new gardens in unsightly parts of the property.Have already ordered some from my friend Chris at Hallston gardens in Michigan.
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Ellen,
Thanks for the heads up I also had ordered the dwarf variety but since have changed it to the Dioicus.Want it to be a success hate dis appoitment.
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Please tell me about digging up and dividing Aruncus Dioicus. I need to move 2 plants that have been in the ground for 10 years. The root structure is very extensive and the ground very rocky. To dig or to buy new?
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Donna - I have only ever transplanted young Goatsbeards, but if they are established plants, it's worth a try. They do have pretty serious root systems which might make them hard to transplant. You'll probably have to really hack at the roots to free the plants...be sure to remove some of the top growth at the same time to reduce stress on the plant. Good luck!
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Thanks Ellen, for your reply. I dug and dug out beyond the drip line so got most of the side roots. I did need to pull and break about 6 roots that went down. Then I put the plants in their new location very near by. Next day it rained and rained. Leaves that wilted took in a big drink. It has rained at least 2 inches since then. You would not know the goat's beard had been moved - at least, so far. The plants are 12 years old.
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hi Donna - that is great news, lots of rain right after transplanting would definitely help! Always good to schedule any digging/dividing for a rainy day
Glad it has worked out.
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