Aruncus, a perennial for shade

Planting a perennial border in the shade sometimes presents a challenge in finding the right plant with the right height.

I planted a row of Aruncus dioicus, or goat’s beard, at the back of my perennial bed more than 20 years ago. It has grown there without any problem.

It is an old-fashioned perennial that was once called Spirea Aruncus. It loves shade so I chose it for an area in my garden with only a short period of afternoon sun.

I wondered what 19th-century seed companies and nurseries wrote about this plant. Garden writers from that period had nothing but praise for it.

In 1885, Philadelphia nurseryman Thomas Meehan included an article from the weekly English garden journal Gardener's Chronicle in his monthly garden magazine. The title of the article was “The Aruncus offers unique beauty in the garden.”

The article said, “A grand plant, not by any means so abundant as it should be in our gardens, owing to its very distinct and effective appearance. Of course there are positions in the garden where it would be out of place, but there are many others to which it would give additional beauty. We have yet much to learn and appreciate in the arrangement of hardy plants.”

Then Meehan, whose name was simply noted at the end of the article by the letter "T," described the plant.

"I may say, for the benefit of those unacquainted with the plant, that it grows from 3 to 4 feet high, with large divided foliage, and immense plumes of white flowers, forming when established most conspicuous objects. I lately saw several masses 3 and 4 feet in diameter, and as much high, and nothing could surpass their unique beauty," he wrote.

Because this plant can grow a few feet tall, it is probably best to position it in the back of the perennial bed. Though garden books often advocate for planting Aruncus in a damp or moist area, I grow it in dry soil with no problem.

After the plant blooms, I cut off the tall flowers, which turn brown after a while. Thus I simply enjoy the green color of leaves on this shrub-like plant for the rest of the season.

In 1897, the garden journal titled Vick's Illustrated Monthly Magazine said, "Spirea Aruncus is popularly known as the 'Goats Beard’ (sic). It is a very effective species and one of the best of border plants. It is a native of England, grows from 3 to 4 feet in height, and blooms during the months of June and July. The foliage is very handsome, the leaves being of pinnate form and of a light green color. Flowers are a creamy white and borne in large branched panicles."

Aruncus is one of our native plants even though Vick's magazine had written that it was native to England. The American Beauties Native Series (http://www.abnativeplants.com) offers it for the gardener among its collection of plants.

What I like about Aruncus is that it is an easy plant to grow and does not take over an area. It certainly deserves a spot in a shady garden.

Ohio University Press released Thomas Mickey’s new book, “America’s Romance with the English Garden.” He lives in Rye. Send him an e-mail at tmickey@americangardening.net.