© Greg Rabourn
Goat's beard blooming (enlarge)

Aruncus sylvester

Perennial Groundcover

Height: 5 ft.

Availability: High

Growing ease: Medium

Moisture req.: moist - wet

Exposure req.: sun - part shade

Plant description:

In Europe, a high premium is paid for this magnificent native flower. Deciduous, it arises from the ground in the spring on four to five feet new arching stems which end in a large mass of airy white flowers. The flower clusters last for several weeks and then turn a tawny brown which eventually turns tobacco brown through the winter till cut down in Febrary/March. It is a stately flower and looks good through the winter in it's flower seed state. It is best on the edge of the forest or thicket and is a great companion for ferns and other lower ground cover plants.

Keywords: birds, butterflies, perennial (non-woody), upright, white

Articles that mention this plant: Native plants for fall color

Plans that use this plant:Moist, sunny, Wet, sunny