The goat's beard plant is a dramatic plant with soft plumes of white flowers. It is native to the United States and does best in moist locations. This bush-like plant has an upright growing habit and is a deciduous perennial in most USDA zones.
Its Latin name is Aruncus dioicus and is part of the rose family. This plant is best suited for rain gardens, woodland gardens, and semi-shaded outdoor areas.
Native Habitat
The goat’s beard is native to continents in the northern hemisphere. It is naturally found in the mountainous regions of Eurasia and North America. Here in North America, the goat's beard can be found in woodlands and along bluffs.
Growing Habits
It grows three to six feet tall making it great for use as a woodland screen. The goat’s beard plant blooms for a couple of weeks in late spring to early summer.
This plant grows best in moist soil conditions.
Needing constant moisture is what makes the goat’s beard plant ideal for rain gardens and woodland gardens. It does not do well in hot and dry climates and suffers when it dries out.
In cooler zones, the goat's beard plant can tolerate full sun and it thrives in part shade. If it’s grown in hot climates, it will benefit from more shade.
This plant is a deciduous perennial, meaning that it will lose its leaves in winter, but will regrow in spring. It spreads by rhizome. Goat’s beard plant can be propagated by seed or by division.
It is hardy in zones four through eight but may struggle in the heat of zone eight. If you live in a hot climate, it is recommended that you plant it in full shade and provide it with plenty of water.
Where to plant Goat’s Beard
Rain Gardens
It can be tricky to find plants for rain gardens. Goat’s beard, however, is an ideal plant choice for rain gardens due to its need for moisture. Whether you have a pond, creek, stream, or wet spot in the garden, this plant will provide you with lush growth every summer.
Woodland Gardens
Woodland gardens have been gaining in popularity over the past few years. With more people moving into the country, woodland gardens have become more commonplace.
The goat's beard is one of the plants that can withstand woodland conditions. This plant feels right at home in woodlands thanks to their rich, moist soils and ample shade.
Borders
If you don’t have a woodland garden or a rain garden, no worries. The goat’s beard will do great in borders and other kinds of flower beds. Because of its height, it does best in the back of borders where it can add depth and a calming sense of enclosure to your outdoor space.
Planting and Care Guide
The goat’s beard plant is an easy plant to take care of. If planted in the right conditions, it requires little (if any) maintenance. Here is a step-by-step guide to planting and growing the goat’s beard plant:
- Find the right location, this spot should be moist and receive partial shade throughout the day
- Buy a plant (or two!)
- Dig a hole that will be deep enough for the roots but not too deep that you are burying the stem
- Gently cover the roots with soil and pat soil down with your hands
- Water the plant thoroughly to establish the plant and eliminate any air pockets in the soil
Aftercare:
- Remove dead leaves and stems to improve the appearance
- Cut flowers to use in arrangements or to dry
- Divide every few years to encourage growth and to make new plants
The goat’s beard plant is easy to take care of and great for pollinators. Reintroducing native plants to an area helps to balance the ecosystem and encourages beneficial insects.
Plants for sale:
Here at Tennessee Nursery, we work hard to provide the healthiest plants to our customers at the fairest prices. We specialize in native plants (in fact, 94% of our plants are native)! This means they are less susceptible to diseases and pests, plus they help rejuvenate the ecosystem.
Fortunately, the goat’s beard is a robust plant that practically takes care of itself. With the right start, it will reward you for years to come. Keep reading for our product listings:
Goat’s Beard
Goat's beard shows off dramatic plums of white flowers that resemble fireworks. It blooms in late spring and early summer adding liveliness to the garden. It has an upright, bushy growing habit and is low-maintenance. It has little problems with pests and diseases, especially when it’s planted in the proper conditions.
Zones: 3 to 8
Sun exposure: Sun or part shade
Mature height: up to 6 feet
Water: Average to moist
Best for the back of borders, backgrounds, rain gardens and woodland gardens
Check out the Goat's Beard product page here
Similar plants for sale:
These next few plants are similar to goat’s beard in their appearance, care requirements, or individual features. Whether they are used in companion planting or to create a unifying theme in the garden, these plants pair well with the goat’s beard.
Foam Flower
The foam flower has bristle-like flowers on the end of its stems. It is similar to the goat's beard in that it has fuzzy white flowers. The foam flower does best in shaded conditions and can tolerate moist soils. It is easy to grow and it draws beneficial insects.
Zones: 3 to 8
Sun exposure: Full shade
Mature height: up to 2 feet
Water: Average
Best for the middle of borders, woodland gardens, and shaded gardens
Check out the Foam Flower product page here
Black Cohosh
Zones: 4 to 9
Sun exposure: Full shade
Mature height: up to 6 feet
Water: Average
Best for woodland gardens and shaded gardens
Check out the Black Cohosh product page here
Yarrow
The yarrow prefers full sun and goes well with the goat's beard plant for succession planting purposes. Yarrow blooms in mid to late summer and is loved by pollinators. In addition to having beautiful flowers, the yarrow plant’s leaves can be used to make salads or tea.
Zones: 3 to 9
Sun exposure: Full sun
Mature height: up to 3 feet
Water: average to moist
Best for pollinator gardens, borders, and Cottage Gardens
Check out the Yarrow product page here
Milkweed
The flowers of the milkweed complement those of the goat's beard. It is a great choice for succession planting and provides pollinators with food later in the growing season. The milkweed also spreads by rhizome and seeds making it ideal for planting on woodland edges.
Zones: 4 to 9
Sun exposure: Full sun
Mature height: up to 3½ feet
Water: average to moist
Best for pollinator gardens, borders, woodlands edge, and cottage gardens
Check out the Milkweed product page here
To check out more plants, click here to see all of our flowering perennials. If you have any more questions about the Goat's Beard, please reach out to us! We love sharing our gardening knowledge with anyone interested.
