Hard to choose my favourite shade plant but one I would definately recommend is Goatsbeard. It has such an imposing presence in the garden; more shrub like than perennial, attaining a lot of growth in a short time after emerging each spring. It gets better and better every year. It is a long term plant, not requiring division; and division would be difficult due to the size of its woody roots! This is the kind of plant you site well and leave it be. It's feathery white plumes are an eye catcher and are long lasting.
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Obviously did something wrong as my link to the database didn't work.

I find it easier to just cut and paste but if you retype you need to be sure to add the / before the second db in brackets. Edit your entry and see if that works.

Thanks Marilyn! Think I've got it now.😀

A very handsome plant; I like that the white flowers will brighten up a shady area.

There is also a dwarf form called Aruncus Dioicus Nobile.
Both are easily germinated indoors with out chilling with use of GA3.

GA3?

I have another Goatsbeard on my wish list: Kneiffii. It is a smaller plant with finer cut leaves; resembles Japanese Maple.( probably the closest I can get to that here!)

I have both the large goat's beard and the very small border goat's beard. I like both. I have several areas where I have had trouble finding border plants that will thrive, and the small variety does very well. It has a fine texture and blooms repeatedly. The large variety is stately and elegant. Both are very easy to care for.

Add me to the fans of Aruncus. From the time that the attractive foliage emerges in the spring til fall the plant is attractive. It is spectacular when in bloom and it still looks good when I remove the bloom stalks as they decline. The plant continues to have eye appeal and takes on an attractive color in the fall. It is great with Hostas.

Here are two picturea of the Aruncus foliage with Hosta Krossa Regal....

I don't have room for the stately monster, but here's another vote for a dwarf
Dwarf Goat's Beard (Aruncus dioicus var. kamtschaticus)
and admittedly not the best picture, but you can see how manageable the size is

I really like the A aethusifolius too, a lovely front of the border smaller plant. Here's a photo from Howick Hall garden.

I really appreciate the goatsbeards too. I have perhaps 7 varieties. from dwarf to medium (about 20-24 in tall) and the standard. It is amazing the growth that the standard puts out each year, Freezes to the ground here and ends up being about 4ft tall. Taller when in bloom.

I have a Kneiffii, and it's beautiful and attention-getting. The foliage is great-looking dark green. people always ask what it is. I have it in a part sun situation, not particularly moist, but great soil. it has never sulked from dryness even when other plants do.