Comments on: Goatsbeard for the Shade Garden

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 18:59:02 +0000

Connie, goatsbeard lose their leaves in the fall. These perennials make quick growth in the spring, and it doesn’t take long for them to reach their full height.

By: Connie

Connie — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 17:51:15 +0000

Do the goatsbeard plants stay green year round or lose their leaves in the winter. I just got 4 plants and have the perfect spot for them but it does not say whether they are evergreen or not.

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Wed, 18 May 2011 00:17:40 +0000

Micheal, thanks for the suggestion of some more combinations with goatsbeard. Mine are shooting up quickly now, and I look forward to the blooms.

By: michael

michael — Tue, 17 May 2011 22:52:20 +0000

Oak leaf Hydrangeas are another great plant to combine with your Goats Beard

By: michael

michael — Tue, 17 May 2011 22:49:39 +0000

These plants will do well also under pine trees with some sun and are a native plant to the United States
I encourage everyone to plant a native plant in their gardens…

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 13:57:07 +0000

Cathy, your Aruncus should do fine in that light. I have mine in a corner, too, and it grows about 1.2 metres square (4 feet by 4 feet), but there is some room for expansion. Mine grew to about 2 metres (6 feet) tall in about 3 years. They are a perennial, and die back to the ground every fall, growing quickly again the next spring. You could remove a few branches if they were in the way, and it wouldn’t effect next year’s shape, but you probably want to make sure you have enough room to plant one, so it doesn’t block your door.

Another tall perennial for the shade, that doesn’t get quite as large is Actaea, but it blooms in late fall.

By: cathy

cathy — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 13:20:49 +0000

I want to plant the large Aruncus in a shaded corner–it gets direct morning sun early and just for a few hours. The rest of the day is shaded. The corner is bounded by my exterior basement door and a block foundation. I think I have enough room for it to grow. When is the best time to plant? You mentioned that the roots establish quickly, what is the growth rate? Do you ever prune your plant; if so when? Thanks for the help.

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 22:15:49 +0000

#28, the female and male flowers are on separate plants, and the female flowers are not as fluffy. The male flowers are more like astilbe. It’s possible that the ones that don’t appear to open are the female ones. Do they look more like the top photo? Those are the smaller female flowers.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:26:50 +0000

I have 6 of these in my garden at various points around my house and yard – love all of them but two of them in different locations do not ever truly bloom. They bud and get the long stem but don’t flower. Any thoughts?

By: Shelley

Shelley — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:48:33 +0000

Our winter here was wierd, it was mild with not alot of snow, and an early spring,
thanks