Use & Care NotesCompanion Plants
Goatee Goat's Beard: Cream Plumes for a Cool, Moist Bed
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Goatee goat's beard is a compact, unusually free-flowering goat's beard. In June it bursts into so many dense, feathery cream plumes that the plant turns into a soft cloud, and before and after bloom its finely cut, glossy dark green leaves keep the mound looking full and fernlike.
It wants rich, moist soil and appreciates shade, which puts it in a different part of the garden from lavender. Think woodland bed, not sunny row.
Goatee at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Aruncus 'Goatee' |
| Flowers | Dense, feathery cream plumes, 6 to 8 inches long |
| Foliage | Dark green, finely cut and fernlike, slightly glossy |
| Size | 24 to 26 inches tall, 26 to 28 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts mid-June, peaks late June |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 7 |
| Light | Full sun to full shade (more water in sun) |
| Wildlife | Bees visit; deer resistant |
Where it belongs in a lavender garden plan
A garden with lavender usually has two moods: the dry, sunny beds and the cooler, damper spots under trees or along the north side of the house. Goatee is for the second. Plant it with hostas, ferns and astilbe, where its airy plumes stand out against broad, solid leaves. It blooms in late June, the same moment English lavender peaks, so both halves of the garden flower at once. Plan the two areas in the Companion Plant Planner.
At about 2 feet tall, it is far smaller than the classic goat's beard, so it also fits the front of a shade border, edging along a woodland path or a large container on a shady porch.
Getting it established
- Soil: fertile and humus-rich. Dig in compost before planting.
- Water: keep it evenly moist, especially in sunnier spots and in its first seasons.
- Heat: it prefers cool summers. In hotter areas, give afternoon shade or the leaf edges brown.
- Patience: it is slow for the first couple of years, then fills out.
- Do not move it: established plants are hard to relocate, so plant it where it can stay.
After the plumes
You have two choices once flowering ends: trim the faded plumes for a tidy green mound, or leave them for texture and winter interest. The plumes dry well, so you can also cut them at peak and hang them to use in dried arrangements alongside your lavender bundles. Goatee is very hardy in Michigan without protection; cut the foliage back in late fall or early spring. Problems are few, though leaf spot or sawfly larvae can show up now and then.
Frequently asked questions
Can it grow in the sun with lavender?
It tolerates sun only with plenty of water, which lavender would not appreciate. Give each its own bed.
How is it offered?
As a full 72-cell plug tray of young starter plugs, suited to growers and shade plantings. See the product page for current availability.
Is it related to astilbe?
They are different plants that look similar in bloom and like similar conditions, which is why they pair so well together.
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