Shade gardens can pose a challenge in that they can be hard to brighten up once the spring ephemerals have passed. One plant that is very useful for this is goatsbeard. A native of damp mountainous woodlands, goatsbeard is found all across the Northern Hemisphere. Its creamy white plumes in late May into early June are a welcome addition along with the astilbes, which they somewhat resemble.
While native goatsbeard can be too big for suburban gardens at five to six feet tall, there are two smaller versions perfect for tight spaces.
Of course if you have the room, do plant the taller native, as a mature clump makes a head-high curtain of creamy plumes that’s hard to beat in bloom. The rest of the year it blends seamlessly into the background where you can totally forget about it.
Two smaller goatsbeards
The first is a hybrid, Chantilly Lace from Proven Winners. It closely resembles its native cousin in every respect except size. Topping out at 30 inches in bloom and a bit lower out of bloom, it fits in virtually anywhere. Lacy white plumes are borne in early summer. They go really well with astilbes and all the usual woodland plants. The creamy slim flowers stand out nicely for about ten days, gradually fading to a soft pinky beige. The foliage is more deeply cut than the native form, giving it an astilbe-like appearance. While this goatsbeard is not quite as showy as, say, a white astilbe, it runs a close second. It’s also hardier than astilbe.
The second choice, Aruncus aethusifolius, is a natural dwarf form native to Korea. It’s a wonderful edging plant but not very well known for some reason. At just 12 to 18 inches high and wide, it makes tidy clumps of ferny emerald foliage that never gets out of hand. I value it for its groundcover value even more than the flowers.
The cultivar most readily available is Noble Spirit. In midsummer, small creamy tufts emerge and cover the entire plant. They last a long time, gradually aging to caramel. (Just deadhead to neaten; doing so will not prolong flowering.) In fall, Noble Spirit turns a rich, brick red before finally dying back.
Both Chantilly Lace and Noble Spirit are completely trouble-free. Insects and mildew leave it alone, as do the deer and rabbits.
Siting and Cultivation Tips
Goatsbeard is not fussy about soil ph but it prefers moist, humusy conditions rich with organic matter. If it has adequate moisture it can take full sun, but does best in part shade, especially afternoon shade where it’s hot. If the soil dries out completely the foliage can decline rather quickly. Goatsbeard hates drought, so keep an eye on it if there’s no rain in the forecast.
Companion plants include all the woodland regulars like columbine, astilbe, ferns, tiarella, wood phlox, bulbs, carex, bleeding heart, lady’s mantle, hostas, hellebores, woodruff, packera, cohosh and the like. Annuals next to it are fine as well.
All four goatsbeard species are dioecious, meaning having male and female plants. Supposedly the male plants have slightly fuller flowers, but I’ve never noticed much difference. (Plus, plants are usually not identified by sex when you buy them, so it’s hard to know what you’ve got. But if you’re offered plants where sex is identified, opt for males.)
Once established it’s best not to move a specimen. Goatsbeard is difficult to transplant due to its tap roots. They can be a little slow to establish for the same reason, and plants may take a season to settle in. Fortunately because it doesn’t spread and is long lived and trouble-free, goatsbeard can be left in place for years. It is an excellent choice for damp spots and even full shade, although flowering may suffer in full shade.
The only maintenance needed is to trim off spent flower stalks and to cut old foliage to the ground before new growth appears inspring. No need to fertilize. If flowering seems scant, a shovelful of compost around the base should do the trick.
Now that you know about these two smaller goatsbeard varieties, I hope you decide to add one to your own nook or cranny.
