The high forest goat's beard, often just called goat's beard, is quite undemanding, very easy to care for and is one of the wild perennials. The young sprouts are considered a delicacy among gourmets and bees also like Aruncus Dioicus, the Latin name.
Goatsbeard blooming in a soft evening light in spring.
The right soil and the best location
As a forest dweller, the goat's beard likes a more shady or semi-shady location, but can get along with almost any soil. However, it prefers a moist and humus-rich soil.
The tall forest goat's beard can reach a height of about two meters during flowering. Of course, it takes up a lot of space. Do not plant the perennials too close together or next to other plants. A distance of about one meter is recommended. Suitable neighbors are, for example, forest bellflowers, astilbes or foxgloves.
Water and fertilize the goat's beard
It is best to fertilize young plants with well-rotted compost during planting in the spring, after which hardly any fertilizer is needed. Unless your garden soil is very poor in nutrients. In a dry summer, however, you should water your goatee regularly. However, make sure to avoid waterlogging, because the goat's beard doesn't tolerate it very well.
cutting goatee
The high forest goat's beard is ideal as a cut flower for the vase. The up to 50 cm long panicles of flowers in white or ivory are a real eye-catcher and spice up many a boring bouquet. It is best to cut the panicles in the morning hours during the flowering period from May to June or July so that your bouquet stays in the vase for a long time. The dwarf goat's beard is also an excellent cut flower that gives a bouquet fluffy fullness.
A pruning of the entire perennial is recommended in late autumn. Trim your goatee quite generously down to the ground. The strong roots will sprout again in good time in spring. If you don't want to have an empty garden in winter, then leave the decorative panicles in place and only cut back your plants in early spring.
The essentials in brief:
- semi-shady to shady location
- if possible moist humus soil
- relatively large space requirement
- well suited as a cut flower
- water sufficiently
- Avoid waterlogging
tips
For smaller gardens, we recommend the also winter-hardy and also very decorative dwarf goat's beard. It takes up significantly less space.