Home > Landscaping > Native Plants for Western Washington Gardens and Restoration Projects
Aruncus dioicus
Goat's Beard
At a Glance: Tall perennial herb topped with large feathery clusters of white flowers, grows from rhizomes and has multiple stems.
Height: Can grow up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) tall.
Growth Form: Herb.
Stems: Stems are ribbed.
Leaves: Leaves are dark green and hairless above while hairy and paler below. Lower leaves are 3 times compounded with leaflets sharply toothed and pointed; upper leaves are smaller and less compounded. Leaflets range from 3-15 cm (1-6 in) long.
Flowers: Male and female flowers occur on separate plants. Flowers are densely packed in elongated terminal feathery clusters. Flower branchlets are spike-like. Each saucer-shaped flower is white to cream with petals to about 1 mm long.
Flowering Period: May, June, July.
Fruits: Light brown cylindrical straw-colored follicles 3-5 mm long.
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 full sun > 80% mostly sunny 60%-80%  partial sun and shade 40%- 60% mostly shady 60%-80% full shade > 80%
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wet moist dry
Wetland Indicator Status:
NI (no indicator data) |
low elevation mid elevation sub-alpine high elevation
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Aquatic and Wetland:
Ponds or lakes Shallow pools Sloughs Swales or wet ditches Seasonally inundated areas Marshes or swamps Aquatic bed wetlands Emergent wetlands Scrub-shrub wetlands Forested wetlands Bogs, fens Seeps, springs
Lake shores Bog margins Streams or rivers Stream or river banks Riparian corridors River bars Floodplains Bottomlands Alluvial areas |
Saltwater Areas:
In or near saltwater Mud flats Tidal areas Estuaries Saltmarshes Brackish water Seashores Coastal dunes or beaches
Coastal bluffs Cliffs Rocky slopes Outcrops Crevices Glacial outwash Gullies Slide areas
Heaths Snow beds Tundra Avalanche tracks |
Forests and Thickets:
Forests and woods Open forests Coniferous forests Old growth forests Deciduous forests Mixed forests Nurse logs Forest edges, openings, or clearings Thickets
Pastures or fields Meadows or grassy areas Mossy areas
Roadsides Trailsides Logged sites Burned areas Disturbed sites |
Berries Seeds Nectar for hummingbirds Nectar for butterflies Host for insect larvae Thickets and shelter Thorny or protective cover
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Insects: The flowers attract hummingbirds, mourning cloak butterflies, and native wasp and bees.
Mammals: The foliage is browsed by deer and elk.
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Landscape Uses: Male plants have the showiest flowers.
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Suggested References
- Jacobson A.L. 2001. Wild Plants of Greater Seattle. Published by author. Page 194.
- Link, R. 1999. Landscaping for Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. Page 278.
- Lyons, C., W. Merilees. Trees and Shrubs to Know in Washington and British Columbia. Lone Pine Publishing. Page 143.
- Pojar, J., A. Mackinnon. 1994. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Lone Pine Publishing. Page 182.
The landscaping and restoration information provided on this page is taken from the Starflower Foundation Image Herbarium. All photographs © Starflower Foundation unless otherwise noted.
