Goat’s Beard with its showy white ‘plumes’ is possibly Mustila’s most striking forest perennial. It has self-seeded among many other plants.
Grown from seed, Goat’s Beard produces both staminate and pistillate plants. If both are planted, it will produce seeds. The staminate and pistillate plants are easy to distinguish when Goat’s Beard flowers. The stamens are long and make the blossom look ‘fatter’. Staminate plants are more popular in flower beds because they are more showy and they also blossom for longer. Once the pistillate plants have pollinated, they soon turn brown and seeds begin to develop.
Goat’s Beard can equally well be planted in a garden on its own. In time, it forms an impressive, roundish bush. Its natural range covers a large area, and slightly different strains have been found. This is visible particularly in the blossom and the autumn colouring. Breeders are also interested in Goat’s Beard and a number of varieties are available, especially in Central Europe.
