Care-free perennials: Goatsbeard

Although the name can be a tad off-putting, goatsbeard is a highly popular plant in many gardens. It's hearty, adaptable and gorgeous to look at.

Goatsbeard, formally known as Aruncus dioicus, is the perfect plant for shady locations. It grows quickly, easily and big and is an excellent choice to flesh out any garden.

Not too much sun is needed

For gardeners with shady yards, it can be tough to find a plant that thrives in less-than-sunny conditions. But when that happens, the goatsbeard is the perfect plant for cool and shady climates. It can still grow in hot locations, but it'll need shady respite to really reach its full growing potential.

In terms of soil, you'll want to keep it slightly moist and never let the soil dry out completely. Adding a generous helping of compost, manure or leaf mold before putting in the goatsbeard will also help it thrive, but be careful of where you choose to plant it. Its root system will get pretty big after a few years, making it pretty tough to dig up and transplant, so treat the spot you pick as though it'll be a permanent one.

A great complement to other plants and trees

Goatsbeard can be the star of your garden, but most gardeners prefer to use it as an accessory to other plants because of how it grows in spread-out masses. Height is one of its main features (giant goatsbeard can grow up to 1.5 metres tall), so make sure you don't plant it too close to others so there's no overcrowding.

Their appearance takes on a full, fluffy, green-and-creamy white appearance, which makes it easy to pair with with almost any other colour. The lightness of the plant also brightens up shady gardens and creates an almost glowing look at sunset.

Plant pairing choices

You can most definitely plant goatsbeard in the garden by itself, but it also goes marvellously with several other plants. Many species of hostas also love the shade and the juxtaposition of alternating leaf shape and texture, but with similar colours, makes for an elegant pairing.

Geraniums are another alternative if your garden has a mixed amount of sun and shade. Plant the goatsbeard in the cooler, darker spots, and save the geraniums for the sunnier locations. The contrast in colour, with the vivid intensity of the geraniums and the subtlety of the goatsbeard, makes for a really striking pair.

Lastly, cinnamon fern is great to pair with goatsbeard because of their similarity in size and colour and difference in texture. The cinnamon fern can take up a lot of space like the goatsbeard (make sure to focus on good spacing), and provides an interesting look with its green fronds alongside the featheriness of the goatsbeard.

Growing goatsbeard is one of the easiest things you can do for your garden. It takes root easily and quickly and fills the area with luscious, light green growth.