The High Forest Goat's Beard, often just called Goat's Beard, is quite undemanding, 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, its Latin name.
How do you properly care for a goat's beard?
Caring for a goat's beard includes a semi-shady to shady location, moist, humus-rich soil, enough space, regular watering without waterlogging and, if necessary, sparing fertilization. Cut the perennial back in late autumn or spring and use it as an attractive cut flower.
The right soil and the best location
As a forest dweller, the goat's beard prefers a shady or semi-shady location, but can cope with almost any soil. However, it prefers moist and humus-rich soil.
The High Forest Goat's Beard can grow to a height of around 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 around one meter is recommended. Suitable neighbors include forest bluebells, astilbe or foxglove.
Water and fertilize forest goat's beard
It is best to fertilize young plants immediately during planting in spring with well-rotted compost (€12.00 on Amazon), after which hardly any more fertilizer is necessary. Unless your garden soil is very poor in nutrients. However, in a dry summer, you should water your goat's beard regularly. Be sure to avoid waterlogging, as the goat's beard doesn't tolerate it very well.
Cut goat's beard
The High Forest Goat's Beard is ideal as a cut flower for the vase. The up to 50 cm long flower spikes in white or ivory are a real eye-catcher and spice up many a boring bouquet. During the flowering period from May to June or July, it is best to cut the panicles in the morning hours so that your bouquet lasts for a long time in the vase. The dwarf goat's beard is also an excellent cut flower that adds fluffy fullness to a bouquet.
Pruning the entire perennial is recommended in late autumn. Feel free to trim your goat's beard quite generously down to the ground. The strong roots will sprout again in good time in the spring. If you don't want to have an empty garden in winter, then leave the decorative flower spikes and cut back your plants in early spring.
The most important things in brief:
- Partly shaded to shady location
- if possible, moist, humus-rich soil
- relatively large space requirement
- well suited as a cut flower
- water enough
- Avoid waterlogging
Tip
The winter-proof and very decorative dwarf goat's beard is recommended for smaller gardens. It takes up significantly less space.