With the forest goat's beard, it does not occur to you that the forest perennial could be related to cinquefoil, strawberries or roses. The rose family has special requirements for the location. If the conditions are not right, the forest goat's beard cannot thrive.

The forest goat's beard grows tall and very old

Table of Contents

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  1. origin
  2. growth
  3. leaves
  4. blossom
  5. heyday
  6. fruit
  7. use
  8. Is goat's beard poisonous?
  9. Which location is suitable?
  10. What soil does the plant need?
  11. propagate forest goat's beard
  12. sowing
  13. What is the best planting time?
  14. The right planting distance
  15. Forest goat's beard in a pot
  16. Water goat's beard forest
  17. Fertilize the goat's beard properly
  18. Cutting the goat's beard correctly
  19. How do I plant correctly?
  20. hardy
  21. Diseases
  22. brown leaves
  23. Forest goat's beard does not bloom
  24. sorts

    25. origin

    Behind the forest goat's beard is a rose plant with the scientific name Aruncus dioicus. The plant is often offered under the synonym Aruncus sylvestris. This species name indicates the distribution in forests. The species, which is often confused with the meadowsweet, occurs in Central Europe. In northern Germany he is a garden refugee in many places. In the Alps, the forest goat's beard conquers altitudes of up to 1,500 meters.

    Typical habitats:

    • Mixed forests with beech and fir
    • Maple-ash deciduous forests
    • pure beech forests
    • embankments and stream banks
    • canyons

    growth

    The rose family is a perennial and herbaceous plant with an underground rhizome that is short and vigorously developed. With the help of the rhizome, the forest goat's beard overwinters. It is also used for vegetative propagation, so that the plant forms large stocks within a short period of time. The above-ground stems are unbranched and often woody at the base. With the inflorescence, the forest goat's beard can grow between 80 and 200 centimeters high. If the site conditions are optimal, the sprawling plant will be several decades old.

    leaves

    The leaves are stalked and consist of a blade that is pinnate two to three times, with the individual leaflets also appearing in three to five parts. Each leaflet is irregularly sharply serrated and tapering to a point. The leaves grow up to 100 centimeters long and are initially fresh green and later dark green in colour. The plant is deciduous and withers in winter.

    blossom

    Aruncus dioicus develops up to 10,000 tiny individual flowers that are held together in terminal inflorescences. From a botanical point of view, they represent disc flowers. The total inflorescence is composed of many-year-old partial inflorescences. It reaches a length between 20 and 30 centimeters and leans towards the ground. The plants are unisexual.

    heyday

    The forest goat's beard blossoms between June and July. The overhanging inflorescences vary in color. While the female flowers are pure white, the male flowers are creamy white. The forest goat's beard sets decorative accents in the garden during the flowering period and acts as a magnet for butterflies, wild bees and bumblebees. Even after the flowering period, the withered inflorescences are an eye-catcher, because the flowers retain their light color and do not turn brown.

    fruit

    Seeds are formed only when male and female plants grow at a location. Between September and October, the forest goat's beard bears numerous follicles, each containing three to five seeds. The fruits dry up and rupture, so the seeds are scattered and spread with wind and water. The seeds belong to the cold germs that sprout after the winter. As a hibernator, the fruits remain until the next spring. They provide a valuable retreat for wintering insects and serve as an important food source for smaller songbirds

    use

    The forest goat's beard is an aesthetic component in the near-natural wild garden. It enriches butterfly meadows and bee pastures. Due to the stately height of growth, the rose plant can be optimally planted as a privacy screen. It embellishes the edges of water bodies or trees. Aruncus dioicus can be planted in small groups in open spaces, although a rhizome barrier is recommended. In the front garden, the plant acts as a decorative eye-catcher.

    These are ideal plant partners:

    • tall forest grasses such as moor grass or hair grass
    • Carex species such as Japanese sedge and giant sedge
    • Forest bellflower and foxglove

    Is goat's beard poisonous?

    The forest goat's beard contains hydrocyanic acid, which can cause slight poisoning if consumed in large quantities. In northern Italy, the young shoots are sold as vegetables on the market. They are eaten raw or cooked because of the asparagus-like aroma. This gave the plant its nickname "forest asparagus". After boiling, the hydrocyanic acid glycosides break down.

    Which location is suitable?

    Aruncus dioicus grows in shade or partial shade. A place in the migratory shade is also ideal, so that the perennial is not constantly exposed to the sun. High humidity ensures healthy growth.

    What soil does the plant need?

    The sunnier the location, the wetter the soil needs to be. The forest goat's beard needs a moist and humus-rich soil. A nutrient-rich and freshly drained gauze soil with a loose structure is ideal. The substrate may be rich in bases and low in lime.

    propagate forest goat's beard

    The forest goat's beard is propagated vegetatively by division of the rhizome. This measure takes place in autumn or spring before the new growth phase begins. The division can be carried out easily with young plants. As the plants get older, they become more difficult to divide because of the woody base.

    sowing

    Old and young plants can easily be propagated from seeds. To do this, cut off the flower stalks in autumn and place them in a container to dry. If the skin of the fruit ruptures, the tiny seeds can be shaken out.

    Cultivation outdoors is very easy. Scatter the seeds over the desired area. A distance of 10 to 15 centimeters between the seeds is ideal. To make sowing easier, you can mix the seed with sand and spread it over the area. Wait until next spring. The temperatures provide the necessary cold stimulus, which has to be artificial when growing indoors.

    What is the best planting time?

    The forest goat's beard can be planted out in late summer. In the first winter, young plants should be protected from the cold. Alternatively, you can plant the perennial in spring. Then the perennial has enough time to develop many roots before winter.

    The right planting distance

    In a solitary position, one plant is sufficient for 100 square meters. The plant comes into its own in small tuffs. You should note the increase in width of the respective variety. Also keep a distance of 100 centimeters to other plants. In order to get a dense privacy screen within a short time, you should plant three to four plants next to each other per meter. Two plants are enough. However, it takes a little longer for the perennials to develop an opaque green wall.

    Forest goat's beard in a pot

    The forest goat's beard also thrives in a correspondingly large pot if the site conditions are right. The pot must have drainage holes so that water can drain away. As a container plant, the rose plant must be watered regularly because the substrate dries out faster. A location in partial shade or shade is necessary for healthy growth.

    Water goat's beard forest

    The underground root system must not dry out, as the forest goat's beard quickly lets its leaves droop. The water is well stored in the heavy but loose clay soil with a proportion of sand. In this way, Aruncus dioicus also survives shorter periods of drought. If there is no rain for a long time, you will have to water the can more often. A temporarily flooded soil does not cause any problems for the perennial.

    Fertilize the goat's beard properly

    The forest goat's beard prefers nutrient-rich conditions and enjoys a compost addition in spring. This provides the plant with all the important nutrients for the growth phase. In the fall you can mulch the soil. As the material decomposes during the winter, the plant benefits from additional nutrients.

    Cutting the goat's beard correctly

    Pruning measures are not necessary because the forest goat's beard does not grow out of shape. The stocks get bigger and bigger over the years. Only the willingness to spread could become a danger if space is limited. If you want to stop self-propagation, you should cut off faded inflorescences in autumn. In spring, the plant is cut back to the ground so that the fresh shoots get enough light to grow.

    How do I plant correctly?

    The perennial is difficult to transplant when old, so you should choose the location well before planting. Division is also becoming increasingly difficult because of the woody stems and rhizomes. Divide and rejuvenate the plant in time to save yourself the hassle of transplanting.

    hardy

    The forest goat's beard is one of the hardy perennials that easily survive even frosty temperatures. The rhizomes are well protected from frost in the ground. If you spread a layer of mulch on the substrate in the fall, the rhizome will be well insulated even in months without snow. The dead parts of the plant provide additional protection against the cold and should therefore be left over the winter.

    How to overwinter potted plants:

    • in a sheltered spot in the shade
    • on a block of wood
    • Wrap container with foil
    • Cover substrate with brushwood
    • water on frost-free days

    Diseases

    The perennial proves to be resistant to pathogens. It is spared from pests and even looks uninteresting for snails.

    brown leaves

    Brown spots on the leaves can have various causes. A change of location or transport when the weather is too hot is often responsible. The plants react sensitively to a rapid change between rain and sun. Raindrops on the leaves act like lenses and cause sunburn. A fungal attack or pests can also cause stains, although these causes are very rarely considered.

    Forest goat's beard does not bloom

    If the perennial was planted in autumn, it invests its energy in rooting. It often happens that the forest goat's beard does not start flowers in the next spring. Only when the plant has settled in well can it put its energy into flowering.

    tips

    Place the forest goat's beard right next to a pink flowering ceremonial spire. The astilbes look confusingly similar to the rose plants and ensure a harmonious overall picture. They belong to the saxifrage family and are therefore not closely related to the forest goat's beard.

    sorts

    • Kneiffii: stem wiry. Variety with star-shaped flowers in feathery racemes, creamy white. Up to 100 centimeters high and 50 centimeters wide.
    • whirlwind: Sterile variety. Creamy white flowers in panicles from June to July. Between 100 and 140 centimeters high.

Category:

Vegetable garden