Goatsbeard , also spelled goat’s-beard, is a popular garden plant known for its fingerlike flower clusters. These clusters group together in clumps that somewhat resemble the beards of goats. Goatsbeard stands about 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 meters) high and has dark green leaves. The tiny, creamy-white flowers measure only about 1/6 inch (4 millimeters) wide.
Goatsbeard, a hardy plant, grows throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere. It is a perennial—that is, it can survive for more than two years. Gardeners often plant goatsbeard seeds in the fall. The flower clusters then bloom in the summer, rising well above the leaves. Goatsbeard grows best in partially shaded places.
People also use the term goatsbeard for certain plants in the same genus (scientific group) as salsifies (see Salsify ). The flowers of these plants develop into feathered, cottony seed clusters that resemble those of dandelions. Some members of the genus, including the yellow goatsbeard, were introduced to North America from Europe.
