origin
Behind the forest goat's beard is a rose plant with the scientific name Aruncus dioicus. The plant is often offered under the synonym Aruncus sylvestris. This species name indicates the distribution in forests. The species, which is often confused with meadowsweet, occurs in Central Europe. In the north of Germany he is a garden refugee in many places. In the Alps, the Wald-Geißbart conquers altitudes of up to 1,500 meters.
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Typical habitats:
- Mixed forests with beech and fir trees
- Maple-ash deciduous forests
- pure beech forests
- Embankments and creek bank
- Ravines
growth
The rose plant is a perennial and herbaceous plant with an underground rhizome, which is short and strongly developed. With the help of the rhizome, the forest goat's beard hibernates. It is also used for vegetative reproduction, so that the plant forms large stands within a short period of time. The above-ground stems are unbranched and often lignify at the base. With the inflorescence, the forest goat's beard can grow between 80 and 200 centimeters high. If the site conditions are optimal, the spreading plant will be several decades old.
leaves
The leaves are petiolate and consist of a two- to three-pinnate blade, with the individual leaf pinna also appearing in three to five parts. Each leaflet is irregularly sharply serrated and tapering to a point. The leaves grow up to 100 centimeters long and are initially fresh green and later dark green. The plant is deciduous and moves in in winter.
blossom
Aruncus dioicus develops up to 10,000 tiny individual flowers, which stand together in terminal inflorescences. From a botanical point of view, they represent disc flowers. The total inflorescence is composed of many annual partial inflorescences. It reaches a length between 20 and 30 centimeters and slopes to the ground. The plants are unisexual.
Heyday
The forest goat's beard comes into flower between June and July. The overhanging inflorescences vary in color. While the female flowers are pure white, the male flowers are creamy white. The forest goat's beard sets decorative accents in the garden during the flowering period and acts as a magnet for butterflies, wild bees and Bumblebees. Even after the flowering period, the withered inflorescences are an eye-catcher, because the flowers keep their light color and do not turn brown.
fruit
Seeds are only formed when male and female plants grow in one location. Between September and October, the forest goat's beard bears numerous follicles, each containing three to five seeds. The fruits dry out and tear open, so that the seeds are scattered and spread with wind and water. The seeds are one of the cold germs that sprout after winter. As a winter bird, the fruits are preserved until next spring. They provide a valuable retreat for wintering insects and serve as an important source of food for smaller songbirds
use
The forest goat's beard is an aesthetic component in the natural wild garden. It enriches butterfly meadows and bee pastures. Due to the stately growth height, the rose plant can be optimally planted as a privacy screen. It beautifies the borders of water or trees. Aruncus dioicus can be planted in small groups in the open space, with one Rhizome barrier is recommended. In the front garden, the plant acts as a decorative eye-catcher.
These are ideal plant partners:
- tall forest grasses like Pipe grass or curmudgeons
- Carex species such as Japanese sedge and giant sedge
- Forest bellflower and foxglove
Is the forest goatbeard poisonous?
The forest goat's beard contains hydrogen cyanide, which can cause slight poisoning if consumed in large quantities. In northern Italy, the young shoots are offered as vegetables on the market. They are eaten raw or cooked because of their asparagus-like aroma. This gave the plant its nickname "forest asparagus". After boiling, the hydrogen cyanide glycosides disintegrate.
Which location is suitable?
Aruncus dioicus grows in the shade or Penumbra. A place in the hiking shade is also ideal, so that the perennial is not permanently exposed to the sun. A high level of humidity ensures healthy growth.
What soil does the plant need?
The sunnier the location, the wetter the soil needs to be. The forest goat's beard needs a moist and humus rich soil. A nutrient-rich and draining fresh garbage soil with a loose structure is ideal. The substrate may be rich in bases and low in lime.
Multiply forest goatee
The forest goat's beard is propagated vegetatively by dividing the rhizome. This measure takes place in autumn or in spring, before the new growth phase begins. The division can be carried out with young plants without any problems. The older the plants get, the harder they are to divide because of the woody base.
sowing
Old and young plants can easily be propagated from seeds. To do this, cut off the flower stalks in autumn and place them in a container to dry. If the skin rips open, the tiny seeds can be shaken out.
It is very easy to grow outdoors. Scatter the seeds on the desired area. A distance of ten to 15 centimeters between the seeds is ideal. To the sowing To make things easier, you can mix the seeds with sand and spread them over the area. Wait until next spring. The temperatures provide the necessary cold stimulus, which must be done artificially when growing indoors.
What is the best time to plant?
The forest goat's beard can be planted out in late summer. In the first winter, young plants should be protected from the cold. Alternatively, you can plant the perennial in spring. Then the perennial has enough time to develop many roots by winter.
The correct planting distance
In a solitary position, one plant is sufficient for 100 square meters. The plant comes into its own in small tuffs. You should note the increase in width of the respective variety. Also keep a distance of 100 centimeters to other plants. In order to obtain a tight privacy screen within a short period of time, you should place three to four plants next to each other per meter. Two plants are enough. However, it takes a little longer for the perennials to develop an opaque green wall.
Forest goat beard in a pot
The forest goat's beard also thrives splendidly in a correspondingly large bucket if the site conditions are right. The pot must have drainage holes so that irrigation water can drain away. As a container plant, the rose plant must be watered regularly, as the substrate dries out faster. A location in partial shade or shade is necessary for healthy growth.
Watering the forest goat beard
The underground root system must not dry out, as the forest goat's beard quickly lets its leaves hang down. In the difficult but relaxed Clay soil with sand, the water is well stored. Aruncus dioicus can withstand shorter periods of drought. If there is no rain for a long time, you will have to use the watering can more often. A temporarily flooded soil does not cause the perennial any problems.
Fertilize the forest goat beard properly
The forest goat's beard prefers nutrient-rich conditions and enjoys being given compost in spring. This supplies the plant with all the important nutrients for the growth phase. In the fall you can use the ground mulch. If the material is decomposed during the winter, the plant will also benefit from nutrients.
Cut the forest goat beard correctly
No pruning is necessary because the goat's beard does not grow out of shape. The stocks become more and more abundant and larger over the years. Only the willingness to spread could be a danger if space is limited. If you want to prevent self-spreading, you should cut off faded inflorescences in autumn. In spring, the plant is cut back close to the ground so that the fresh shoots get enough light to grow.
How do I transplant properly?
The perennial is difficult to transplant in old age, which is why you should choose the location carefully before planting. Division is also becoming increasingly difficult because of the woody stems and rhizomes. Divide and rejuvenate the plant in good time to save yourself the hassle of transplanting.
Hardy
The forest goat's beard is one of those hardy perennials that can withstand frosty temperatures without any problems. The rhizomes are well protected from frost in the ground. If you spread a layer of mulch on the substrate in autumn, the rhizome will be well insulated even in months without snow. The dead parts of the plant also provide protection from the cold and should therefore remain there over the winter.
How to overwinter potted plants:
- in a sheltered place in the shade
- on a block of wood
- Wrap the vessel with foil
- Cover the substrate with brushwood
- Water on frost-free days
Diseases
The perennial proves to be resistant to pathogens. It is spared from pests and looks uninteresting even for snails.
Brown leaves
Brown spots on the leaves can have various causes. A change of location or transport in hot weather is often responsible. The plants are sensitive to a rapid change between rain and sun. Raindrops on the leaves act like lenses and cause sunburn. Fungal infestation or pests can also cause stains, although these causes are very rare.
Geissbart forest does not bloom
When the perennial is planted in autumn, it invests its energy in rooting. It happens more often that the forest goat's beard does not start to flower in the next spring. Only when the plant has settled in well can it put its strength into flower formation.
Tips
Put the forest goat's beard right next to a pink blooming one Splendid spar. The astilbe looks very similar to the rose family and creates a harmonious overall picture. They belong to the saxifrage family and are therefore not closely related to the forest goat's beard.
sorts
- Kneiffii: Stems wiry. Variety with star-shaped flowers in feather-like panicles, creamy white. Up to 100 centimeters high and 50 centimeters wide.
- Whirlwind: Sterile variety. Creamy white panicle-shaped flowers from June to July. Between 100 and 140 centimeters high.