Bride’s-feathers

Goat's beard is a large, clump-forming perennial native to moist woodlands across the Northern Hemisphere, reaching three to six feet tall with compound, fern-like foliage and large, feathery plumes of tiny white flowers in late spring to early summer. Male and female flowers are on separate plants; male flower plumes are showier and more upright.

Grow in partial to full shade in moist, humus-rich soil. Goat's beard tolerates full sun only where soil stays consistently moist. Once established, it is a low-maintenance, long-lived perennial with few pest or disease problems. The bold foliage and white flower plumes provide strong structure in shade gardens and woodland edges.