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Actaea
Baneberry / Bugbane
RANUNCULACEAE
Now
Includes the group formerly known as Cimicifuga Herbaceous
Perennial
The
berries of Actaea. alba, rubra, and spicata are highly poisonous
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Actaea Rubra |
Actaea Rubra |
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Actaea comprises a group
of clump forming perennial plants suitable for woodland gardens, shady
areas and the banks of streams or rivers. They all have attractive
foliage and flowers, and in many case fruits.
Depending on variety they
all produce plumes or spires of white or pink tinged flowers which
appear above the foliage from spring to late-summer and autumn.
Actaea alba, Actaea rubra,
and Actaea spicata, also develop clusters of white, red, or black
berries, which are highly poisonous.
Some of the Cimicifuga
(Bugbanes) ~ e.g. Actaea simplex ~ are highly prized because of their
bronze or purple foliage
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| Varieties: -
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Actaea. alba
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See: Actaea.
pachypoda |
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Actaea. erythrocarpa of
gardens
[Red Baneberry]
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See: Actaea.
rubra |
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| Actaea. pachypoda
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Syn: Actaea.
alba
Form: A compact, clump-forming perennial.
Height: 3ft (1m)
Spread: 20in (50cm)
Foliage: Having divided, mid-green leaves.
Flowers: Producing small spikes of fluffy, white flowers during Summer,
followed by clusters of white berries during Autumn. |
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| Actaea. rubra
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Syn: Actaea. erythrocarpa of gardens
Form: A clump forming perennial
Height: 20in (50cm)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having oval, divided, bright green leaves.
Flowers: Produces white flowers, followed by clusters of scarlet berries in the
autumn |
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| Actaea. spicata
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(Cimicifuga) Actaea. racemosa
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Form: A
clump forming perennial
Height: 1-5ft (30cm-1.5m)
Spread: 2ft (60cm)
Foliage: Having broadly oval, divided fresh green leaves.
Flowers: Spikes of, bottlebrush like, pure white flowers are produced in
mid-summer
var cimicifuga. cordifolia see C. rubifolia
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(Cimicifuga) Actaea. rubifolia
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Syn: C. racemosa
var cordifolia
Form: A clump forming perennial
Height: 5ft (1.5m)
Spread: 2ft (60cm)
Foliage: Broadly oval to lance shaped, dissected, light green leaves.
Flowers: Producing feathery plumes of star shaped creamy-white flowers in
mid-summer. |
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Actaea. simplex
[Cimicifuga]
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Form: An upright perennial
Height: 4-5ft (1.2-1.5m)
Spread: 2ft (60cm)
Foliage: Having glossy, divided leaves.
Flowers: During Autumn, producing arching spikes of tiny,
fragrant, star-shaped, white flowers. Flowers require staking
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Actaea. simplex
'Elstead'
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Form: A clump-forming, upright perennial
Height: 4ft (1.2m)
Spread: 2ft (60cm)
Foliage: Has broadly oval to lance shaped, heavily dissected, light green leaves.
Flowers: Producing tall purple stems carrying arching racemes of bottlebrush like
white flowers during the autumn.
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Actaea. simplex
'Pritchard's Giant'
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Form: A clump forming
upright perennial
Height: 7ft (2.2m)
Spread: 2ft (60cm)
Foliage: Has large heavily divided leaves
Flowers: Producing white flowers in arching panicles
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Cultivation: -
Actaea should be grown in moist,
fertile, soil enriched with a great deal of well rotted organic matter.
They prefer a shaded position away from direct sunlight. Keep
well watered during dry spells.
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Propagation: - Sow
seed in containers in the cold frame during spring or autumn. Fresh seed
has a better prospect of germination, hence an autumn sowing producing the
best results. Divide
established clumps during the spring
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Fully Hardy
Pests & Diseases: -
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Actaea rubra
Actaea rubra
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In gardens where there are no
young children who may eat the berries I fully recommend Actaea alba,
rubra, and spicata as plants for the shady border, where they will provide interest
throughout the season simply by virtue of their wonderful leaf colour
and shape.
Indeed for Family gardens I
would have no hesitation in suggesting that the shady parts of your
garden would be positively enriched by the addition of Actaea
simplex
Whilst most Actaea have light green leaves, there are specimens that have much
darker leaf colour |
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This page was last updated on 05/02/2004
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