Plants with white berries also have a black central dot, giving this plant the namedoll’s eye.
Plants grown in sunny areas tend to stay smaller.
Water
Do not let actaea plants dry out during the growing season.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
While they do not like boggy conditions, they need about one inch of water each week.
Keep the plant in a cooler, shaded area.
This plant isn’t picky about humidity when planted in typical growing zones.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
It was also used as a bug repellent, hence its common “bugbane” name.
Common baneberry cultivars include:
Pruning
This plant doesn’t need much pruning.
Deadhead the tips when they begin to die back.
bluesea / Getty Images
In the fall, cut the plant down to the ground.
It will pop up again with the spring thaw.
Propagating Actaea (Baneberry)
Actaea can be grown from seeds or division.
If you choose division,divide plantsin the fall.
If planting bare-root bugbanes, place the crown one inch under the soil’s surface to ease transplant shock.
Gardeners prefer potted plants over bare-root where available.
Since actaea can grow large, use larger pots with ample drainage holes.
Pots can expose the plant roots to colder temperatures, bringing these plants indoors to winter.
Younger plants might benefit from a layer of mulch during the coldest part of the season.
Root rot is possible if the plant sits in soil holding water.
Remedy soggy soil by working pumice or sand into the soil.
if you run into orange spots on the leaves, they could berust spots.
To prevent rust spots, ensure to use drip irrigation, which will help reduce the risk of overwatering.
The flowers do not have petals; the fuzzy appearance is because they are composed entirely of stamens.
While the lightly fragrant flowers attract butterflies, they are not appealing to rabbits or deer.
The flowers have a honey-like, sweet fragrance.
Deadheading Actaea (Baneberry) Flowers
Deadhead the flowers when the blooming period ends.
Deadheading prevents the plant from self-sowing or producing more plants in that spot.
Plant pests avoid this plant since it’s toxic to most insects.
Yellowing Leaves
Bugbane plants are suited for shady areas.
When exposed to excessive sunlight, the leaves may become yellowish.
Provide this plant cover.
Browning Leaves
Actaea develops brown, drying, or dying leaves if left in the sun.
This summer scorch condition progresses from the leaf margins inward, somewhat symmetrically.
It also needs an organically rich environment.
Stunted Growth
Plant growth slows down if it does not have enough water.
Ensure the plant has adequately moist but not soggy soil.
Cimicifugais a synonym forActaea.
Plant actaea beside the cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) to draw butterflies to this shady garden.
Gardeners looking for drama for theirperennial shade gardensoften opt for hostas.
While some hostas sport showy flowers, blossoms are not the focal point of the hosta.
Actaea, by contrast, offers nice foliage and pretty flowers.
Actaea plants are as slow to establish in the garden ashostas, but they are worth the wait.
When planted in an ideal location, actaea can live for a decade or more.
North Carolina State Extension Service.
North Carolina State Extension Service.
National Institutes of Health.
