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Creamy-white flower plumes of goat's beard in a shady woodland edgePerennials

Aruncus dioicus

Goat's Beard

goat's beardshade plantwhite flowerswoodland edgenative plant

Goat's beard is a stately, woodland perennial with large, compound leaves and spectacular creamy-white flower plumes that rise above the foliage in June and July. This native plant can reach 180 cm tall and is perfect for partial shade beneath trees or along waterways.

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Before
After

Characteristics

Sun
Partial shade
Water
Medium
Height
100–180 cm
Spread
80–120 cm
Hardiness zone
3–7
Family
Rosaceae
Evergreen
No
Flower colors
white
Wildlife value
bees, butterflies

Bloom period

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Care guide

Plant in partial shade in moist, humus-rich soil. The plant tolerates more sun if the soil stays sufficiently moist. Mulch annually with leaf compost and apply a light feed in spring. Once established, the plant is reasonably drought-tolerant.

Pruning tips

Remove spent flower stems after blooming, or leave them standing for decorative seed heads. Cut back dead foliage in late autumn or early spring.

Good companions

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Hosta sieboldiana

Hosta

Hosta is the quintessential shade plant, valued for its large, blue-green, ribbed leaves. Light purple or white bell-shaped flowers appear on tall stems in July and August. Over the years the plant forms substantial clumps that give a shaded border a lush character.

Full shadeMedium50–90 cm
Pink feathery plumes of astilbe in a shaded borderPerennials

Astilbe × arendsii

False Spirea

False Spirea is an elegant shade plant with feathery plumes in pink, red, or white above deeply cut foliage. It blooms from June to August, and the plumes retain their ornamental value even when dried. Astilbe thrives in moist, shady spots where many other plants struggle.

Partial shadeHigh50–100 cm
Purple foxglove flowers on a tall spike in partial shadePerennials

Digitalis purpurea

Foxglove

Foxglove is an imposing plant with tall flower spikes packed with thimble-shaped blooms in purple, pink, or white. The flowers appear from June to July on one-sided spires reaching up to one and a half metres. The plant is biennial but self-sows reliably, returning each summer. Note: all parts are poisonous.

Partial shadeMedium100–150 cm