'Fairy Hair' Goatsbeard (Aruncus)
Perennial
- Feathery, whimsical blooms add movement and texture!
- Low maintenance, deer resistant, and drought tolerant.
- Native perennial attracts pollinators.
- Zones 3-7, sun/part sun/shade 24" tall x 24" wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
This perennial plant is native to North America and has a light texture that makes it ideal for filling empty spaces in shade gardens or gardens close to water. In most southern parts of its growing range, the plant's growth can become sparse when planted in deep shade. On the other hand, in northern zones, full sun is more suitable as long as there is adequate moisture in the soil.
Details
Common name: Goat's beard, goatsbeard, bride's feathers, buck's beard
Zone: 3 - 7
Sun exposure: Sun (> 6 hours sun), Part Sun (4-6 hours direct sun), Shade (< 4 hours direct sun)
Height x width: 24" X 24"
Flower color: Creamy white
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Summer
Bloom time: Early Summer, midsummer
Features: Native, container plant, deer resistant, drought tolerant
Uses: Border, Cottage gardening, Foundation planting, Massing, Cut flower
How to Grow
Light: Full sun, part sun, shade. It prefers part shade in the warmer, southern part of its growing range. Plants will be smaller and require more water in sunnier spots than shadier ones.
Water: Average to wet. Foliage decline can rapidly occur when soils dry out.
Spacing: 2 - 2.5 ft apart
Fertilizing: None required; if desired, apply a granular garden fertilizer in early spring.
Winterizing: Stems of the plants should be cut back to the ground in the autumn.
Maintenance & pruning: Removing faded flower stalks will not prolong bloom. Pruning is not necessary, except to remove damaged or unattractive foliage.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.