goatsbeard ‘Horatio’
Aruncus ‘Horatio’ (goatsbeard ‘Horatio’). This member of the Rosaceae is actually a hybrid between an Asiatic Aruncus (A. aesthusifolius, 10-16 inches tall) and the Midwestern native Aruncus (A. dioicus, 4-6 feet tall). German nursery grower Ernst Pagels hybridized these two species in order to create an intermediate height plant that grows to 2-3 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide.
Adaptable for growth in USDA Zones 4-7, Aruncus ‘Horatio’ does well in the organic soils and partial shade of open woodland-like gardens and makes a particularly impressive display when planted in mass.The tiny, cream-white flowers of Aruncus ‘Horatio’ appear on astible-like panicles from June to July on bronze stems. The green fern-like bi-pinnate compound leaves create an amazing soft textured backdrop to the flowers, and turn a bright red in the fall. Flowers attract a number of moths and butterflies, and Aruncus ‘Horatio’ can play host to the larvae of the dusky azure butterfly (Celastrina nigra).
| Botanical Name | Aruncus ‘Horatio’ |
| Common Name | goatsbeard ‘Horatio’ |
| Family | Rosaceae |
| USDA Zone | 4 thru 7 |
| Light Requirement | Full Sun to Part Shade |
| Season(s) of interest | spring, summer, fall, winter |
| Height and Spread | 2-3ft x 1.5-2.5ft (60-90cm x 45-75cm) |
| Flower Color | Creamy White |
| Attracts Wildlife | Attracts Pollinators, |
| Additional Information | Not Native to the US Midwest. Hybrid between Aruncus aesthusifolius (Korea) and Aruncus dioicus (North America, Western and Central Europe, Southern Russia and Caucasus). Introduced by nurseryman Ernst Pagels |
| Location in Lurie Garden | North Dark Plate, Southeast Dark Plate |
Average Flowering Time
