Bride's Feathers
Aruncus dioicus
- Native to:
- Albania, Austria, Belarus, Canada, Czechia-Slovakia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Italy, Nepal, North Caucasus, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Ukraine, United States
Walter Siegmund (talk)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Genus:
- Aruncus
- Species:
- Aruncus dioicus
- USDA Symbol:
- ARDI8
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 180 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Endopiza aruncana, Dusky Azure (Celastrina ebenina), Dusky Azure (Celastrina nigra)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Sitka bumble bee (Bombus sitkensis) Butterflies:Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, beneficial insects
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers shaded or semi-shaded areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination. Surface sow or barely cover. Fresh seed germinates more reliably than stored seed.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Cold-stored seed is washed in running water for 24 hours, then sown in 10.5 in3 Spencer-Lemaire rootrainers with a well-drained upland soil mix. The seeds are stored in a cooler exposed to outside winter temperatures for 5.5 months before being moved to the greenhouse for germination.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months.