Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Chantilly Lace Goat's Beard: A Cream Cloud for the Woodland Bed
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Chantilly Lace goat's beard produces so many lacy, cream-colored plumes in early summer that they nearly hide its deep green leaves. It looks a lot like a big astilbe, but once established it handles dry spells better, and it grows into a full, shrub-like mound three to four feet wide.
It belongs in the shade garden. Goat's beard wants rich, moist soil, which is exactly what lavender cannot stand, so plan it for the woodland side of your property.
Chantilly Lace at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Aruncus 'Chantilly Lace' |
| Flowers | Feathery cream plumes, 6 to 10 inches long |
| Foliage | Deep green, divided into toothed, pointed leaflets |
| Size | 24 inches tall in sun to 32 inches in shade; 40 to 48 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early June, peaks mid-June |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 7 |
| Light | Full sun to full shade; extra water needed in sun |
| Wildlife | Bees visit; deer resistant |
How it fits a lavender property
Think of Chantilly Lace as the shade-garden counterpart to your lavender. While the lavender beds are buzzing in the sun, this goat's beard turns a shady corner into a wide cloud of cream lace. It blooms in early to mid-June, so both areas of the garden peak around the same time.
Plant it with hostas, ferns and astilbe under trees or along a north wall, not in the lavender bed. Its broad, shrub-like shape makes it a good building block for filling space in shade, where many perennials stay small. Plan your sunny and shady beds side by side in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Siting: pick a permanent spot with room for a four-foot spread. Established plants dislike being moved.
- Soil: fertile, humus-rich and evenly moist but well-drained.
- Light: grows in full sun to full shade. In sun it stays shorter and needs extra water; in hotter summers give it afternoon shade or the leaf edges brown.
- Patience: it is slow for the first couple of years, then fills out.
- Pests: few problems; leaf spot and the occasional sawfly larvae chewing leaves.
- Winter: very hardy in Michigan with no protection. Cut the foliage back in late fall or early spring.
Plumes fresh and dried
After bloom, the faded plumes turn tan. Leave them for winter interest or cut them off for a tidier look. Chantilly Lace dries well, so cut a few plumes at their peak and hang them upside down to dry. Dried cream plumes add a soft, airy texture to bundles of dried lavender.
About the plug tray
Chantilly Lace is offered as a 72-cell plug tray, suited to growers and large shade plantings. See the product page for current availability, or visit the Wholesale Hub.
Frequently asked questions
Is goat's beard the same as astilbe?
No, though they look alike. Goat's beard is a different plant that grows into a bigger, shrub-like mound and handles dry spells better once established.
Why is it so small after the first year?
Goat's beard is slow to start. Keep it watered, and it fills out after a couple of seasons.
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