bride's feathers
Aruncus dioicus
RHS Plants for Pollinators; MBG Plant of Merit 2016
USDA zones4 to 8
SunHandles full sun to full shade
WaterHandles moderate to wet soil
Size4 to 6 feet tall2 to 4 feet wide
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Habit
- Herb
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer
- Bloom color
- Cream
- Foliage color
- Green
- Soil types
- Loam, clay
- Soil pH
- Neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Bride's feathers (Aruncus dioicus) is a perennial for borders, woodland gardens, rain gardens, and pollinator gardens. It is hardy to USDA zone 4, or down to -30°F (-34°C). This plant likes full sun to full shade and average to wet, loamy or clay soil. Tall, creamy plumes look much like astilbe and attract butterflies and bees. It needs a lot of space and tolerates seasonal flooding. Deer and rabbits rarely make it their first choice.
Pairs well with Cinnamon fern, Wild ginger, and Cardinal flower.
Native range
North America, Europe, Central Asia, Asia, and 10 more places. See all 14
North America, Europe, Central Asia, Asia, Amur, Chita, Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, Magadan, NW. Balkan Pen., Primorye, Sakhalin, Türkiye, and Yakutiya.