Sylvester Goatsbeard
Aruncus dioicus 'Sylvester'
Height: 6 feet
Spread: 4 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 4a
Other Names: Asian Goatsbeard, Goat's Beard
Description:
Airy plumes of cream colored flowers rise on this densely mounded variety; a great plant for wet borders and other moist areas of the garden
Ornamental Features
Sylvester Goatsbeard features airy spikes of creamy white flowers at the ends of the stems from late spring to mid summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its serrated pointy compound leaves emerge chartreuse in spring, turning emerald green in color throughout the season.
Landscape Attributes
Sylvester Goatsbeard is an herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.
This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Sylvester Goatsbeard is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Mass Planting
- Hedges/Screening
- General Garden Use
- Groundcover
- Bog Gardens
Planting & Growing
Sylvester Goatsbeard will grow to be about 5 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 15 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!
This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It is quite adaptable, prefering to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone over the growing season to conserve soil moisture. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.
