False Goat's Beard Astilbe biternata
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called False Goat's Beard:
- Phonetic Spelling
- ah-STIL-bee by-TER-nat-uh
- Description
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A strikingly bold perennial wildflower with tall, white feathery flower plumes, and Large attractive fern-like leaves in the Saxifage family. False goat’s-beard is the only Astilbe native to North America and with its height of almost 6 feet, it is more striking than many of its cultivated cousins. In nature, it can be found growing in cove forests, seepage slopes, and boulder field forests. In NC it is native to the mountains.
Its showy floral display is exceptional and very unusual for a shade plant. It works well as a background plant in perennial planting beds, in woodland or shade gardens and makes for excellent cut flowers. Grow in average to moist well-drained soil amended with compost. It prefers partial shade to dappled shade.
This plant closely resembles Goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus) with similar-looking flowers and leaves but Goatsbeard is in the rose family. They are often found growing in the same habitat.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Astilbe
- Species:
- biternata
- Family:
- Saxifragaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- West Virginia to SE. U.S.A
- Distribution:
- GA , KY, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV
- Wildlife Value:
- Pollinators enjoy the nectar from the flowers.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Description:
- Small follicles in clusters in summer to fall.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Large, elongated, much-branched, terminal cluster of many small, white or yellowish flowers; ten stamens; hairy flower stalk; 4-5 narrow petals. Blooms May-July. It is dioecious with separate male and female plants.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Bright green, up to 2-foot, pinnately compound leaves divided into two parts; divided again into three-toothed or lobed, ovate leaflets; terminal leaflet has three lobes. Leaflets are 3-6 inches by 1.5-3 inches
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cutting Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Rabbits
- Wet Soil
