Growing Aruncus
Growing Aruncus or Goatsbeard is a wonderful plant for the shade or damp garden. Be aware though that this is a rather large plant and not suited for the small garden. It also has a deep and strong root system, breaking more than one shovel quite easily when I've tried to move a mature plant around in my garden.
Growing Conditions
This plant prefers shade to part shade conditions. I have grown it out in sunshine and it performed well but the blooms didn't hold on as long as their shaded counterparts. The leaves also tended to “burn” a bit in the sun if adequate water wasn't available.
Goatsbeard blooms in July with 4-5 foot tall plumes. This plant resembles a massive astilbe but it takes several years to attain this height. The first year, it might only be 2 feet tall, reaching 4-5 feet in two to three years as it gains size and root strength.
The blooms make decent cut flowers.
It is considered hardy down into USDA zone 3.
Propagation
The easiest way to get more of this plant is to divide it with an extremly sharp shovel in very early spring.
Take an eye or two and some root and the plant will be fine. It does not resent moving although with the big strong roots, it may resist moving. :-)
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