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PlantFiles: Herb Christopher, Bugbane, Baneberry, Toadroot
Actaea spicata

 
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Family: Ranunculaceae (ra-nun-kew-LAY-see-ay) (Info)
Genus: Actaea (ak-TEE-uh) (Info)
Species: spicata (spi-KAH-tuh) (Info)

Synonym:Actaea spicata var. alba

Category:
Perennials

Height:
12-18 in. (30-45 cm)

Spacing:
15-18 in. (38-45 cm)

Hardiness:
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)

Sun Exposure:
Light Shade

Danger:
All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested

Bloom Color:
White/Near White

Bloom Time:
Mid Spring
Late Spring/Early Summer

Foliage:
Grown for foliage
Herbaceous

Other details:
Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings

Soil pH requirements:
Unknown - Tell us

Propagation Methods:
Unknown - Tell us

Seed Collecting:
Unknown - Tell us

By arsenic
Thumbnail #1 of Actaea spicata by arsenic

By trilian15
Thumbnail #2 of Actaea spicata by trilian15

By trilian15
Thumbnail #3 of Actaea spicata by trilian15

Profile:

No positives
1 neutral
No negatives

Gardeners' Notes:

RatingAuthorComment
Neutral Baa On Nov 23, 2001, Baa wrote:

A clump forming perennial from Northern Europe and Asia.

Has ovate leaflets (9-20+) on long (upto 24 inches) mid-dark green, toothed leaves. Bears small, white, fluffy flowers followed by black, ovoid fruit.

Flowers late March - June

Likes a cool, moist , humus rich soil in partial or full shade. Great in a woodland garden. Spreads where happy.

VERY POISONOUS

Has been used as an anti spasmodic in times past but there are safer and more effective medicines on the market without having to resort to this plant.

Also yields a black dye.

Toadroot is a common name in England which apparently stems from the plants' smell being attractive to toads. (Toad in a common name normally means something which looks similar to another plant but is of much less value such as Toad Flax). It does have an unpleasent smell and is said to repell vermin hence another common name of Bugbane.



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