Aruncus dioicus
Goatsbeard
Common names: Bugbane goatsbeard, Giant goatsbeard, Common goatsbeard, St. John's plume
At a glance
- Light
- Partial shade
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Flowering
- Jun–Jul
- Hardiness
- Hardy down to −30 °C
- Water need
- High
- Origin
- Native to Germany
Photo: User:Tigerente · CC BY 2.5 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
The goatsbeard, botanically Aruncus dioicus, is a stately native perennial for partial shade and woodland edges. In nature it grows in shady deciduous forests, ravines, and on stream banks. It forms a large, bushy clump of big, multiply pinnate leaves that resemble astilbe, only much larger, and grows 1.5 to 2 m tall and nearly as wide. In June and July, feathery, cream-white flower plumes rise above the foliage. The plants are mostly dioecious: male plants bloom more profusely, while female plants set seed after flowering. In autumn the foliage turns yellow. Goatsbeard is a specimen plant for large beds, woodland edges, and pond margins, especially attractive against a dark background. It remains in the same spot for many years and does not like to be moved. The smaller cultivar 'Kneiffii' has finely dissected leaves.
Care instructions
Plant goatsbeard in spring or autumn in a partially shaded spot with deep, humus-rich, moist soil, such as at a woodland edge or pond bank. It thrives in full sun only if the soil stays constantly moist, otherwise the leaves develop brown edges. Give it plenty of room, at least 1 m on all sides, as it grows large and is difficult to transplant later. Water thoroughly during dry periods and apply a layer of compost in spring. You can cut off the flower plumes after flowering or leave them standing as brown seed heads. In late autumn or late winter, cut the plant back to ground level. Do not plant it too close to smaller perennials, which it will overshadow. It grows slowly in its first year, so patience pays off.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
FloweringJun–Jul
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
humus-rich, loamy, nutrient-rich, moist
Goat's beard comes from woodland with fresh, nutrient-rich, loose humus soil, and that is the soil it wants in the garden too. A deep, loamy soil that never dries out completely is ideal; whether it is slightly acidic or neutral hardly matters. Improve sandy, dry soils with plenty of compost and a thick mulch layer of leaves or bark humus. It likes best a spot that is permanently moist but free-draining, for example at the edge of a pond or on a stream bank.
Feeding
Medium feeder
Months
Apr, Jun
Goat's beard builds up a lot of foliage every year and welcomes plenty of humus. Spread a layer of mature compost around the plant in spring, and in early summer you can give it a boost with diluted nettle liquid feed. A mulch layer of leaves or bark humus also keeps moisture in the soil. It needs nothing more; in nutrient-rich soil it grows strongly on its own.
Overwintering
Goat's beard is fully hardy and needs no protection. In autumn the shoots die back and the plant survives in the soil with its strong rootstock. If you only cut the stems back in late winter, they give the bed structure and protect the centre of the clump. If it shoots early in spring and a late frost is forecast, cover the young shoots with horticultural fleece at night.
Propagation
Methods
- Division
The surest way to propagate goat's beard is by division. The rootstock is very hard, so you need a sharp spade or a hatchet. In early spring, shortly before it shoots, or in autumn, divide the clump into fist-sized pieces with several buds and replant them straight away. Water the divisions generously for the first few weeks. Dividing is only worthwhile for plants that have already stood in place for a few years. Goat's beard can also be grown from the seeds of female plants, but it takes several years to flower, so it is best to buy a ready-grown plant or divide.
Companion planting
Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.
Some of these explanations were machine-translated.
For your garden
Grow Goatsbeard yourself
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