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Aruncus dioicus

Common name:	Goat's Beard	Family:	Rosaceae
Author:	(Walter.)Fernald.	Botanical references:	50, 200
Synonyms:	Aruncus vulgaris (Raf.), Aruncus sylvester (Kostel.)
Known Hazards:	Cyanogenic glycosides are found in the leaves[74].
Range:	Europe, N. America and Asia.
Habitat:	Damp woods, shady places and by streams, usually in mountainous areas[50, 187].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	2	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	2

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	A. aruncus[B,P] A. dioicus var. vulgaris[B,P] A. sylvestris[H] Actaea dioica[G] Spiraea aruncus[B,P]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Bride's Feathers [P], Bride's-feathers [B], Geitenbaard [D], Goat's Beard [H], Goat's-beard Spiraea [L],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	dioicus = dioecious (lit. 2 houses referring to male and female parts on different plants)
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Rosales. Rose family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	Canada(Kwakiutl)

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 2m by 3m at a fast rate. It is hardy to zone 7. It is in flower from June to August. The scented flowers are dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required) and are pollinated by Insects. The plant not is self-fertile. We rate it 2/5 for edibility and 2/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires dry moist or wet soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Meadow, Bog Garden, Woodland, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge, Ground Cover.

Edible Uses

Leaves.

Budlings, stems and young leaves - cooked[177]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Antipyretic Astringent Birthing aid Salve Stings Stomachic VD.

The poulticed root is applied to bee stings[222, 257].
A tea made from the roots is used to allay bleeding after child birth, to reduce profuse urination and to treat stomach pains, diarrhoea, gonorrhoea, fevers and internal bleeding[222, 257]. The tea is used externally to bathe swollen feet and rheumatic joints[222, 257]. A salve made from the root ashes is rubbed onto sores[257].

Other Uses

Ground cover.

Plants form a dense growth that is very effective at holding invasive plants at bay[208]. They can be used as a tall ground cover for large areas[208].

Cultivation details

Succeeds in most moist soils in sun or partial shade[187, 200, 233]. Plants do well in moist to wet soils but will also tolerate fairly dry sites[208]. Succeeds in acid or limey soils[208]. Grows well on the woodland edge[200]. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[233].
Plants are hardy to at least -20° c[187].
This is a polymorphic species, especially the form that grows in Japan[187]. There are some named forms selected for their ornamental value, 'Kneiffii' is only half the size of the type species[208].
Plants are fast-growing[208] and form very large clumps[187]. The flowers are sweetly perfumed[245].
Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required[208].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Sow stored seed in late winter or early spring in a cold frame. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame until they are at least 15cm tall. They can be planted out into their permanent positions at any time of the year.
Division in early spring or autumn[200]. Very easy, the clumps can be planted out direct into their permanent positions.

Scent

Flowers: Fresh: The flowers are sweetly scented.

Cultivars

'Kneiffii': This cultivar is only half the size of the type species[208].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Aruncus dioicus var. vulgaris (a possible synonym).

[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.

References for Aruncus sylvester (a possible synonym).

[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[50] ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964
An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.

[74] Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers.

[177] Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[187] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991 ISBN 0-330-30936-9
Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[208] Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990 ISBN 0-460-12609-1
An excellent detailled book on the subject, very comprehensive.

[222] Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990 ISBN 0395467225
A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.

[233] Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

[257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
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