goatsbeard

plant, Aruncus dioicus

Also known as: Aruncus dioicus, bride’s feathers, goat’s beard

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Also spelled:: goat’s beard

Also known as:: bride’s feathers

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goatsbeard, (Aruncus dioicus), herbaceous perennial plant of the rose family (Rosaceae), native to the north temperate zone. Goatsbeard is often listed as the only species of the genus Aruncus. It occurs most commonly in rich woods in mountainous regions and is cultivated as a border plant. The plant can reach 1.8 metres (6 feet) in height and has pinnately compound leaves that can be up to 50 cm (20 inches) long. Featherlike spikes of 8–10 small, stalkless, white flowers are borne on leafless branches some 10–25 cm (4–10 inches) long. The plants are dioecious (bearing only male or female flowers), with the male flowers being somewhat showier than the female flowers.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.