Goatsbeard varieties??
By Grammazoo
Ontario,
Canada 
This is the second plant which was just tagged as 'Goatsbeard' at our garden center. I put it in about four years ago.The leaves are spaced differently, branching off, and are more toothed than the other. Does anyone know what the difference is? Or what the variety is?
26 May, 2008
Answers
Yes Blodyn right does look like Astilbe but Goatsbeard is an Aruncus and there is a dwarf variety that looks similar.You say you had this four years seen it flower? Aruncus always white Astilbe other shades through pink to deep red.
27 May, 2008
Flower is white plumes on both shrubs, very similar. I have a red astilbe and the leaves are similar to the newer shrub, so I see what Blodyn is saying, but the flowers are white. Maybe this one is the dwarf variety as the 'old' one is about 5'wide x 6'high but this one is still under 4' ??
27 May, 2008
Astilbe is also called Goatsbeard. I've seen it in books.
Maybe Aruncus is also called Goatsbeard. That's why common names can be confusing.
29 May, 2008
These look like the leaves of Astilbe, also called goats beard. Sometimes you find diferent plants with the same name so best to stick to the botanical names maybe.
27 May, 2008