Shade Gardening: Goat's Beard vs Astilbe, 1 by Noreaster

Noreaster wrote:
I have a couple different astilbes, and Misty Lace Aruncus, and for me,. the Aruncus really outshines my astibe. I never get a great deal of blooms on my astilbe, and god forbid I let it get a little dry....it gets all crispy and is gone for the rest of the season. My aruncus gets no real direct sun, is in what I think is a pretty dry spot, and yet it blooms profusely year after year and the foliage never gets crisp. I will say that Misty Lace was larger than I expected it to be...maybe a bit too large for my small garden, but I love it.

Here is a pic from last year with Misty Lace in full bloom. AFter it blooms I cut the flowers off so I can see my hostas on the other side. Like I said, the foliage stays nice all season. Oh, I also planted some "dwarf" aruncus in this bed last year, near the fountain. I'll have to see how small that one stays.