Actaea is a northern hemisphere genus of woodland perennials related to cimicifuga (which some taxonomists mistakenly lump in actaea), ranunculus, helleborus, and clematis. Actaea is known for its attractive lobed leaves and bizarre berries. The American native, Actaea pachypoda, is called doll’s eyes because it produces a cluster with dozens of white berries, each with a dark purple spot in the middle.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Actaea, commonly called baneberry, bugbane and cohosh, is a genus of flowering plants of the family Ranunculaceae, native to subtropical, temperate and subarctic regions of Europe, Asia and North America.
The genus was redefined to include Cimicifuga and Souliea in the 1990s (Compton et al. 1998, Compton & Culham 2002, Gao et al. 2006, RHS Plant Finder, 2007) based on combined evidence from DNA sequence data, similarity in biochemical constituents and on morphology returning it to the original Linnean concept of the genus. The number of species in Actaea is 25–30 using this concept.
Other botanists (e.g., Hoffman 1999, Wang et al. 1999, Lee & Park 2004, Wang et al. 2009) reject this merger because only one group (Actaea) have fleshy fruit while the remainder have dry fruit. However, this narrower generic concept works for only a single morphological character and other characters such as number of carpels moves the generic boundary. The genus is treated here in its broader sense.
Actaea is derived from the Greek name for elder (Sambucus); it was named by Pliny because the leaves of Actaea and Sambucus are similar in appearance.
The name Actaea alba (L.) Mill. is a confused one (Fernald 1940); although described as an American species (now named A. pachypoda), the illustration on which the description was based was actually a picture of the European A. spicata, and strictly, the name is therefore a synonym of the European species. Some texts, however, still treat A. pachypoda under this name.
Actaea, especially the varieties with dark foliage, may sit unnoticed in the shade garden for much of the summer. Also known as bugbanes, these slow-growing plants grow in a loosely formed clump with serrated leaflets resembling those of the lacy Japanese maple (Acer palmatum dissectum).
Beginning in summer and continuing through fall, the plants send up stems bearing bottlebrush-shaped flowers that can be a foot long. The flowers do not have petals, the fuzzy appearance is because the flower is composed entirely of stamens. While the lightly fragrant flowers attract butterflies, they are not appealing to rabbits or deer. The plants are non-invasive.
Baneberry contains cardiac toxins that can have an immediate sedative effect on human cardiac muscle. The berries are the most poisonous part of the plant (hence the name baneberry). Children have been poisoned by eating the waxy, shiny red or white berries. Ingestion of the berries can lead to cardiac arrest and death. It is toxic to rabbits. The berries are harmless to birds, the plant’s primary seed disperser.
The synonym Cimicifuga, meaning ‘bed bug repellent’, has traditional uses: for example, in pharmacology, Cimicifugae rhizoma is a herbal medicine Sheng ma, a Chinese preparation which may be extracted from the roots of A. dahurica and A. heracleifolia. The roots of A. rubra contain β-sitosterol glucoside.
Actaea species are in the same subfamily as plants in the genus Aconitum, a highly toxic plant genus which contains wolfbane and several varieties of monkshood.
II. Types of Actaea
- ‘Brunette’: Dark purple foliage and white flowers, more sun tolerant than ‘Hillside Black Beauty’
- ‘Hillside Black Beauty’: Stems up to 7 feet tall, with white flowers that seem to hover above dark purple foliage
- ‘James Compton’: Dark foliage and white flowers on a 3-foot plant for the middle or front of the border
- ‘Misty Blue’: Bluish-green foliage; white flowers eventually give way to red berries; the earliest spring bloomer
- ‘Pink Spike’: Bronze foliage and pink bottlebrush flowers
III. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Actaea prefers partial to full shade and may naturalize in such areas. Plants grown in sunny areas tend to stay smaller. The gentle rays of the morning sun are ideal, providing plants with enough energy to produce prolific blooms without scorching the vulnerable dark foliage.
Temperature and Humidity
Bugbane prefers moderate temperatures; areas of high heat will slow its growth, and the heat of the sun can scorch the foliage. Keep the plant in a cooler, shaded area. When planted in typical growing zones, this plant isn’t picky about humidity.
Watering
Do not let Actaea plants dry out during the growing season. While they do not like boggy conditions, they need about one inch of water each week. Drought-stressed plants are quick to wilt, and plants grown in dry conditions will come back smaller in subsequent seasons.
Soil
A rich soil amended with ample amounts of leaf mold, rotted manure, or compost is best.
Fertilizing
If you are adding organic matter to the soil each season, you will not need to add additional fertilizer.
Pruning
This plant doesn’t need much pruning. Deadhead the tips when they begin to die back. In the fall, cut the plant down to the ground. It will pop up again with the spring thaw.
Propagation
Actaea can be grown from seeds or division. If you choose division, divide plants in the fall. Take large divisions, turning a mature clump into two or three plants, as this will help the new plants establish quickly. Actaea can be propagated through several methods. Here’s how:
- In the fall, dig up the entire clump.
- Divide your plant into sections using a sharp, sterile instrument. Ensure each clump has roots and foliage.
- Pot each new section in a well-draining container and return one to the original spot.
- Place pots in a shady location and water regularly. Ensure the plants do not dry out or get waterlogged.
How to Grow From Seed
Growing this plant from seed is a laborious process, but it can be done.
- Start by keeping the seeds at a constant temperature of about 60 degrees Fahrenheit for two months.
- Then cold-stratify the seeds by placing them in the refrigerator for another two months.
- At the end of that period, sow the seeds in small containers indoors.
- Keep them lightly watered, and place the container in a warm area.
- Keep in mind it can take up to a year for the seeds to germinate.
Overwintering
Bugbane needs the cold winter to grow well in the spring. Younger plants might benefit from a layer of mulch during the coldest part of the season.
How to Get to Bloom
Actaea plants are slow to establish, so do not despair if your new plants do not bloom for the first season or two. Ensure they have good water, as they don’t like to bloom during drought. These plants produce small white, creamy blossoms. Expect summer blooms to continue through the fall. Deadhead the flowers when the blooming period ends.
Pests and Diseases
Actaea is often called “bugbane” because it is the bane of bugs—they don’t go near this plant. Root rot is possible if the plant is sitting in soil that holds onto water. This can be remedied by working pumice into the soil occasionally.
If you encounter something that looks like orange spots on the leaves, it could be rust spots. This is actually a type of fungus, and there are many ways to treat it including neem oil, baking soda, or commercial fungicide. To prevent rust spots, make sure to use drip irrigation, which will help reduce the risk of overwatering.
III. Uses and Benefits
Grown for their architectural foliage, airy flower spires, bright, berry-like fruit, and ability to thrive in damp shade, Actaea make a reliable and long-lived (up to 25 years) addition to the garden.
Useful for brightening up shadier parts of the garden, actaea also provide a valuable source of nectar and pollen for insects.