Actaea

Actaea pachypoda white baneberry, dolls eyes

Actaea are rhizomatous herbaceous perennials with compound leaves and small creamy-white flowers in short, erect, simple or branched terminal racemes, followed either by poisonous red, black or white berries, or by star-shaped clustered brown follicles

An herbaceous perennial to 90cm, forming clumps of divided, bright green leaves. Spikes of small fluffy white flowers are followed by white berries with conspicuous red stalks

Classification

• Common Names: Actaea pachypoda white baneberry, dolls eyes

• Family: Ranunculaceae

• Variety: pachypoda

Propagation Notes

• Plant Type: Perennial

• Propagation: Seed

• Hardiness: Tender H7 - H10 (+0)

• Flowering Season: Mid summer

Partial shade North–facing or West–facing or East–facing Sheltered Grow in cool, moist, moderately fertile soil, enriched with organic matter. Water thoroughly in dry weather. Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame in autumn or by division in early spring

2024-01-25: Seed from RHS seedbank

actaea cordifolia

The genus name Actaea is from the Greek word Actaia, meaning ‘elder’. The name was given by Linnaeus because of the resemblance of the leaves and the berries to the elder. The species name cordifolia in Latin means with ‘heart-shaped leaves’. This plant was formerly known as Cimicifuga racemosa.

• Common Names: acteae cordifolia

• Family: Ranunculaceae

• Variety: cordifolia

2020-12-26_19-52-34.png: 2020-12-26 Actaea cordifolia seed packet

• Plant Type: Perennial

• Propagation: Seed

• Hardiness: Hardy H5-H1 (<-10)

• Flowering Season: Mid summer

Epson_0637_1.png: 2020-12-26 Actaea simplex seed packet