Leaf
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Goat's beard
Aruncus dioicus (Walter) Fernald
Also known as: Buck's-beard
Family: Rosaceae
1 to 2 m tall
Damp woodland and shady banks; planted in shady borders for its imposing habit
Flowering: June – July
Shade
Part shade
Hardy to about -30°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Resembling a giant astilbe, this perennial can reach two metres tall in shade and was long classified in the genus Spiraea before being given its own genus.
🍃 Leaves
Large, bipinnate compound, toothed, bright green, forming a broad, dense clump
🌸 Flowers
Tiny, cream-white, gathered in long, feathery, upright panicles; dioecious plant with separate male and female plants
🍎 Fruits
Small dry follicle on female plants
🪵 Bark
Not applicable — clump-forming perennial herbaceous plant
🗺️ Distribution
Temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere, including the mountains of France; widely grown in Europe
🐝 Value for pollinators
Very nectar-rich panicles, particularly attractive to bees and various foraging insects
✂️ Horticultural uses
Planted at the back of a shady border or as a specimen near water for its imposing architecture
⚠️ Possible toxicity
Young shoots and seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides; not to be eaten raw. Only the very young, well-cooked shoots are traditionally eaten in some regions.
🌿 Other Rosaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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