Aruncus Horatio

The Aruncus 'Horatio' is a remarkable hybrid variety of Goat's Beard in every respect. Firstly, for its compact and graceful habit, and secondly, for its abundant summer flowering in tapered and elegant creamy-white panicles held upright towards the sky, which fade beautifully. As if that wasn't enough, this cultivar combines the qualities of its two parents: it is of modest size and very hardy, and its superb fern-like foliage ignites in autumn, turning coppery-bronze. It is a beautiful perennial for shady areas of gardens, particularly near water features.

The Horatio Goat's Beard is a type of perennial plant that grows in a bushy clump. It is a member of the Rosaceae family. The plant spreads through rhizomes and stolons. When spring arrives, it begins to grow. This hybrid is a cross between the compact and small-sized Aruncus aethusifolius, native to Korea, and the majestic Aruncus dioicus (sylvestris), a common plant in temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. 'Horatio' will reach a height of 80 cm (32in) when in flower, with foliage reaching 40 cm (16in), and will spread to 50 cm (20in). It grows rapidly and has a good lifespan. Flowering occurs in June-July in thin plume-like panicles measuring 15 cm (6in) long, held upright and attached to reddish-brown peduncles. The panicles are composed of tiny creamy-white flowers, both soft and bright. Its foliage is deciduous, as delicate as that of a fern. The arching leaves are compound, highly divided, with finely toothed leaflets. The leaf-bearing stems are tall and have long petioles. Light green in spring and summer, the foliage takes on magnificent hues in September-October, just like the flower heads.

It is a plant that prefers cool conditions; it can tolerate sun as long as the soil is not too dry, especially in summer. It adapts well to clay soils, provided they are healthy and well-amended. The 'Horatio' Goat's Beard is particularly suitable for cottage gardens, natural gardens, woodland gardens, and water features. It can easily be grown in pots or troughs alongside Astilbes, to which it bears a close resemblance. It looks stunning when paired with the grey foliage of 'Berggarten' or 'Tricolor' sage and the coppery strands of Carex comans 'Bronze'. It creates beautiful scenes with Monkshood, Foxgloves, ferns, and other shade-loving perennials and streamside plants. In large borders, it forms a gorgeous flower bed when planted with rhododendrons, azaleas, and hydrangeas. It also makes a lovely flower for summer bouquets.