When it arrives
Your plug tray
Pot 72-cell plugs into 3–4 inch pots of moist mix and grow on in bright shade until roots fill the pot, then plant out. Keep them evenly moist the whole time.
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Real dishes from our Field Notes recipes, shared by the people who made them.
Fairy Hair grown by our community
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- Mature height
- 24.0 in
- Mature spread
- 24.0 in
- Bloom
- Early-June – peak Mid-June
- Fragrance
- None
- Deer
- Resistant
Lavender companion · grow guide
How to grow Fairy Hair
Goat's Beard · Aruncus
Goat's beard needs moist, rich soil and protection from hot afternoon sun. Varieties range from big Aruncus dioicus types (4–6 ft) to compact hybrids and dwarf A. aethusifolius types under 1 ft; all share the same care.
Check my zone & planting dates
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Part shadeLight
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Steady waterMoist drainage
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pH 5.5–7.0Soil
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Zones 3a–7bHardiness
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24″ tall24″ wide
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ResistantDeer · rabbits some resistance
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Not known toxicPets
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if Fairy Hair will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 3a–7b
Spring or early fall.
Your year with Fairy Hair
JFMAMJJASOND
When to plant
Spring or early fall.
How deep
Set the crown at soil level, the same depth as in the plug.
Spacing
Large types 3–4 feet apart; compact hybrids 18–24 inches; dwarf types about 12 inches. Check the plant's mature size.
Soil
Rich, humusy loam · pH 5.5–7.0
Fix-it tip: Add plenty of compost or leaf mold to hold moisture. In dry or sandy soils, mulch 2–3 inches deep to keep roots cool.
Sun
Part shade (tolerates full shade; full sun only in cool climates with constantly moist soil).
In hot summers, afternoon sun browns the leaves.
Don’t give up on it
Is it alive? What spring looks like
Shoots emerge from a woody crown in mid-spring, often reddish, then leaf out fast. Plugs in their first year may stay small and not bloom until year two or three.
Spring
Mulch with compost as shoots emerge.
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Summer
Creamy plumes in late spring to early summer; keep watered.
Fall
Cut back or leave seedheads.
Winter
Dormant underground; no care needed.
Watering
First season: Keep consistently moist the first season; never let the plug dry out.
After that: Water during dry spells; it does not tolerate drought.
Feeding
Spread compost each spring; a light balanced feed in spring if growth is weak.
Pruning & deadheading
Cut flower plumes after bloom if you don't want seed (female plants), or leave them for winter interest. Cut foliage down in late fall or early spring.
Dividing
Rarely needed. The roots become tough and woody; divide young plants in spring with a sharp spade if you must.
Winter
Very cold hardy (A. dioicus zones 3–7). No protection needed.
Summer heat
Dislikes heat combined with dry soil; it may scorch and go semi-dormant in hot southern summers.
Brown, crispy leaves in July
Likely cause: Too much sun or too little water
What to do: Water deeply, mulch, and give afternoon shade
No flowers the first year
Likely cause: Young plug-grown plant
What to do: Give it 2–3 seasons to size up
Plant leaves chewed to skeletons
Likely cause: Sawfly larvae
What to do: Hand-pick or hose off larvae
Too wet or too dry?
Crispy brown leaf edges mean too dry or too sunny; yellow, limp leaves with a soft crown mean waterlogged soil.
Watch for
- Few serious pests
- Leaf scorch in sun or drought
- Occasional sawfly larvae chewing leaves
Pets & wildlife
Not listed by ASPCA; no known toxicity reported. Discourage pets from chewing any garden plant.
Deer: resistant · Rabbits: somewhat resistant
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
In a container
Possible, with care · 5 gallon+
Compact and dwarf types do fine in pots kept consistently moist; full-size types are too big.
Indoors
Outdoor plant
Needs winter dormancy outdoors.
Winter chill
Best after a cold winter
Blooms in early summer after a normal winter; young plants may take a year to bloom well.
Growing it on
Plugs from the tray
3–4 inch pots for 3–5 weeks, until roots hold the soil
Garden bed or a 5 gallon pot
Time to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Give it its own spot
Grow it in a shady, moist border away from lavender. Goat's beard needs rich, damp soil and afternoon shade, which would rot lavender.
Same bedNearbyIts own area
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