Comments:  Aruncus dioicus or Bride's Feathers or Goatsbeard, or Spaghetti Flower or Sylvan's Goatsbeard, or Aruncus sylvester or Spiraea aruncus or Spiraea paniculata is a showy perennial with an upright, dense growth habit.  It is a native of eastern and central USA and cooler regions of Asia and western Europe.  In late Spring or early Summer, Aruncus dioicus produces exquisite spikes of soft, creamy delicate flowers, followed later by seeds if a female and male plants are present.  Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies especially the Mourning Cloak butterflies are magnetized by the nectar-rich flowers.  Spaghetti Flower has dark green, herbaceous, fine, ferny, oval-shaped leaflets which are pinnately compound.  Goatsbeard is easily propagated from the ripe seeds directly sown onto ground in the Fall or from clump divisions taken in Spring or Fall.  It performs best in well-drained, moist, richly composted acidic or alkaline soil in a part to full shade environment.  Sylvan's Goatsbeard is low maintenance and can tolerated some drought.  It is a self seeder so deadhead to avoid future volunteers.  Spiraea paniculata dies back to the ground in Winter and reemerge next Spring with a vibrant growth.  It also spreads slowly by underground runners.  Aruncus dioicus brightens up a shady or problematic area.  It looks excellent in   back of the border planting.  Goatsbeard is a terrific attention getter. 
Parts of the plants like the young leaves, stems and buds can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable in moderate amounts.  Excessive consumption of the leaves can be toxic.  Various tribes of the American Indians find this plant very useful in herbal medicine.  Various tribes of teh American Indians find this plant useful in herbal medicine.  They used the poulticed leaves to treat bee stings.  As a tea, it treats various ailments, including a footwash for swollen feet and for treating rheumatism in joints, diarrhea and excessive urination. A salve made from the root ashes treats sores.