How long did it take yours to establish? Mine is still very tiny (I planted it two years ago as a very small plant) and it has a fair amount of competition. Anything I can do to help it along? Here's a picture of the area.

I have to say that does not look like any Aruncus/goatsbeard I have ever grown! Height, flower form and foliage more closely resembles Veronicastrum/culver's root, IMO. Are you sure of your ID?

That looks to be a healthy clump of Actaea racemosa (which is also slow to establish), not Aruncus.

I am not at all certain of the ID. We looked at a few pictures on the web and agreed it doesn’t look like Aruncus, especially the flowers. The foliage doesn’t seem right for Veronicastrum. Upon further reflection, I believe sah67 has the proper ID. We have another Actae about 50’ from this one, but it flowers much later. Now I’m talking myself out of Actea.

@maackia In my zone 5b, the wild-type Actaea racemosa, which is what yours appears to be, is in full bloom right now. The darker-foliaged cultivars (which tend to have more genetic affinity with the Asian species, A. simplex), bloom quite a bit later for me, in late August/early September.

That likely explains it,. Thank you, sah. The other one does have darker foliage. They both look great.

As others have said it is for sure Actaea racemosa...and a gorgeous specimen at that! The flowers for these plants are spectacular.

We have two of these plants...both probably 2 full seasons old. Both are healthy but still small. We have two of these plants...both probably 2 full seasons old. Both are healthy but still small.

Here is one starting to flower (Is this an example of fasciation ?)

As a point of clarification: a2zmom's pictured plant is an Aruncus.