Noble Spirits lends a soft, romantic air to the partly shaded garden, unfurling large, frothy plumes of creamy-white flowers above bold mounds of fresh green, fern-like foliage in summer. This sturdy, clumping perennial builds to a substantial three to five feet, holding its own as an anchor at the back of a shade border or along a woodland path. A more compact, garden-friendly take on the classic, it delivers the airy, astilbe-like blooms goat’s beard is loved for on an exceptionally strong frame. Native to North America, it’s well adapted to our conditions and offers welcome nectar to summer butterflies. Plant it where it receives dappled light and consistent moisture, and it will return more impressive each year. Best of all, deer and rabbits tend to overlook it, so the foliage stays lush from spring to frost.