Actaea

( ack - TEE - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Actaea, also known as Baneberry or Bugbane, is a genus of herbaceous perennials that require partial shade and regular water. These are great plants for woodland plantings or for border gardens, with the added bonus of being deer and rabbit-resistant. The dark foliage of some species provides wonderful contrast in beds. Plant these with other fall bloomers like Aconitum and Fuchsia; they also are beautiful when planted with Hostas, Calla Lilies, and grasses. The slightly fragrant flowers will attract pollinators, including butterflies, to the garden. Take care when planting Actaea in the garden, as the berries of some species are poisonous to humans and pets if ingested.

Actaea Species and Varietals

Actaea (part of the Ranunculaceae family of plants) is a genus that was combined with another, Cimicifuga. The genus is now divided into Actaea (Baneberry) and Cimicifuga (Bugbanes). Baneberries are generally smaller plants with clusters of flowers that turn into poisonous berries. Bugbanes, by contrast, are larger with long spikes of flowers that ripen into seed capsules. Pliny the Elder named these plants; Actaea is derived from the Greek word for Elder. They do best when planted in USDA growing zones 3-8 or Sunset zones 1-7 and 17. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Actaea japonica (Cimicifuga japonica) (Japanese Bugbane, Cheju Island Japanese Baneberry, Acerina, Oh-Ba-Shoma)
This species is native to Japan and has white flowers on purple-black stalks in fall. The plant spikes are 3-4 feet tall when mature and in bloom, and the shrub gets to 2 feet wide. Cultivars include a compact variety, 'Cheju-Do', and 'Silver Dance'.

Actaea pachypoda (Actaea alba) (White Baneberry, Doll's Eyes, Necklace Weed, Toadroot, White Beads)
Native to the Eastern areas of North America, this plant reaches 2.5 to 3 feet tall and 1.5 to 2 feet wide at maturity. Flowers are small and white, and bloom on stalks that turn bright magenta-red after blooms expire. White berries that follow flowers are highly toxic.

Actaea racemosa (Cimicifuga racemosa) (Black Snakeroot, Black Cohosh, Fairy Candle)
This plant is native to eastern North America and forms a clump of green leaves 3-4 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Dense spikes of white flowers form on up to 7 foot tall branched stalks in summer and fall. This species prefers a bit more acidic soil than others, typically with a pH of between 5.0 and 6.0. Cultivars include 'Chocoholic' (with dark foliage and red stems) and 'Black Negligee' (with dark, fine foliage).

Actaea rubra (Red Baneberry, Coralberry, Red Cohosh, Chinaberry)
This plant is native to central and eastern North America, where it grows in moist or wet soils in open forest and dry sloped areas. Individual plants reach about 2.5 feet tall and 2 feet wide when mature and produce small white flowers. The berries that follow are poisonous.

Actaea simplex (Cimicifuga simplex) (Kamchatka Bugbane, Black Bugbane, Fairy Candles)
This species is native to Siberia, China, Korea and Japan. It forms a clumping plant to 2 feet tall and wide with flower spikes that reach 3-4 feet. Varieties include 'Atropurpurea' (purple leaves and pink-tinted flower buds on 5 foot stems), 'Brunette', 'Hillside Black Beauty', and 'Pink Spike', the last three of which have dark foliage and pink flowers.

Caring for Actaea

Actaea plants are purchased as bare-roots or as starts from a reputable nursery. The potted plant option is typically more desirable than the bare-root option; bare-roots are more susceptible to transplant shock and do not always survive. Plant your Actaea in a space in the landscape that receives partial to full shade; ideally, they appreciate dappled sun and do well as understory plantings. Green-foliaged varieties will need more shade than the darker, purple-foliaged varieties, which can actually take full sun if they are given adequate water, and their foliage will be a bit darker and more striking in this exposure. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 5.5 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. When planting bare-root, bury the root about an inch below the soil surface in compost-amended soil and cover, then water thoroughly. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, these plants perform well in consistently moist soils, but do not like waterlogged conditions. They do not like to compete for water, so try to avoid planting them too close to the canopies of mature trees or other thirsty plants. On average Actaea will need watering at least once a week (especially in warmer climates); Do not allow the soil to dry out between irrigations.

Actaea is a garden plant that will not need additional fertilizer other than a 2-inch dressing of compost each year. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. They also will not need much pruning. During the blooming period, cut blooming stems back after they fade to encourage more to emerge. In fall, Actaea can be cut to the ground, as most of its foliage will turn brown and die back with the cooler temperatures as it goes into dormancy. Once spring comes around again, new growth will emerge. These plants can be divided for propagation purposes, but clumps do not need to be divided for the health of the plant. Over the winter months, add more mulch over the planting area to protect roots from freezing winter temperatures. These plants will survive for a decade or more in the garden if the right conditions are maintained.

Propagation

Actaea can be propagated by either division or seed. Keep in mind that if you choose to propagate your Actaea from seed, the resulting plant may not be a clone of the parent. For an exact replica of your existing plant, it is better to go for the division method of propagation.

Propagating Actaea by Division
This method is relativey simple; you will need a clean shove, mulch, fresh soil amended with compost, and 12 -inch pots (if you will not be transplanting your divided plants directly into another spot in the garden). Division is best done in fall, when the plants are entering their dormancy. To propagate your Actaea by division, follow these instructions:

Using your shovel, dig up your existing plant starting from the outside and working your way in. This will avoid any root damage from your shoveling. Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Tease apart the roots with your fingers and separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each segment has at least a few shoots.
Prepare your pot(s) or your new garden location by filling or amending with compost-enriched soil, and water to ensure adequate drainage is occurring. Then, plant your divided plants about a half inch under the soil surface and backfill with more enriched soil. Water thoroughly.
Apply mulch around the base of the new planting to discourage water evaporation and protect from colder temperatures over wintertime. Continue providing weekly water and make sure the soil is not drying out, and enjoy watching your plant grow once spring rolls around.

Propagating Actaea by Seed
Actaea seeds can be harvested August through October, when the plants start to enter dormancy. If you'd like to harvest seeds, make sure to leave some spent flowers on your plant so seeds can be allowed to mature. Ready-to-harvest seeds will be held in capsules that make a rattling sound when shaken. Keep in mind that seed capsules do not develop in Baneberries, only Bugbanes. Because Baneberries are poisonous, it is best to propagate them via division. To propagate your Actaea by seed, you will need a plastic bag, a seeding tray (or a pot, whichever you have at your disposal), well-draining soil amended with compost, and a spray bottle filled with water.

Once you have harvested your seeds, place them in a dark area that stays around 60 degrees Fahrenheit and keep them there for two months. Then, move them into the refrigerator for another two months. Seeds will germinate more successfully if given this shock of cold. The seeds then are ready to be sown in containers indoors.
Prepare your tray or pot by filling it with soil, and then watering it to ensure that proper drainage is occurring. Place your seeds on top of the soil, and then cover with more soil. Spray the soil with your spray bottle, and continue monitoring for moisture as the seeds develop. Place your tray or pot in a warm area. Then, be patient. The seeds can take up to a year to germinate.
Once you start to see seedlings appear and grow, you can begin potting them up. Continue giving adequate water. Plants will do best when allowed to reach a good size before being transplanted into your garden. For planting and care instructions, see the 'Caring for Actaea' section above.

This is what the dried seedpods of Actaea look like. When they are ready to be harvested, you will hear the seeds rattling inside the pods when shaken.