Actaea (Baneberry)

Actaea (Bugbane or Black Cohosh) is a stately perennial featuring tall, elegant spires of fragrant, bottlebrush-like flowers and bold, deeply divided foliage. Its white or creamy blooms attract pollinators, while its dark, often purplish-green leaves create a striking contrast in shaded gardens. Thriving in partial to full shade and moist, well-drained soil, Actaea is deer-resistant and low-maintenance, making it a perfect addition to woodland settings and shaded borders. GrowJoy’s Actaea starter plants are grown sustainably, ensuring they arrive healthy, strong, and ready to flourish in your garden.

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Description

Actaea (Baneberry) – Elegant Woodland Beauty with Striking Foliage and Berries

Add a touch of sophisticated beauty to your shaded garden with Actaea, commonly known as Baneberry. This shade-loving perennial is celebrated for its deeply cut, fern-like foliage, graceful white flower spikes, and ornamental berries that appear in late summer. Available in striking varieties like Actaea pachypoda (White Baneberry, known for its “doll’s eyes” berries) and Actaea rubra (Red Baneberry), this plant is a unique choice for woodland gardens, shady borders, and naturalized landscapes.

Actaea thrives in part to full shade and prefers moist, well-drained soil, making it a perfect addition to damp, woodland-inspired spaces. It adds texture and seasonal interest from spring through fall, with its showy berries creating a focal point long after the flowers have faded.


Why Choose Actaea (Baneberry)?

Actaea offers more than just beauty—it’s also low-maintenance, deer-resistant, and excellent for adding biodiversity to shaded garden areas. Its delicate blooms attract pollinators like bees and beneficial insects, while its berries, though toxic to humans, are a source of food for some woodland wildlife.

This perennial is ideal for creating layers of texture and color in shaded beds and borders. It pairs beautifully with hostas, ferns, and other shade perennials to form a lush, natural garden aesthetic.


Key Features:

  • 🌿 Elegant, Fern-Like Foliage – Adds fine texture to shady spaces

  • 🌸 Fragrant White Flowers – Blooms in spring and early summer

  • 🍒 Eye-Catching Berries – Red or white berries offer late-season interest

  • 🌳 Perfect for Shade – Thrives in woodland settings and under trees

  • 🦌 Deer-Resistant & Low Maintenance – Great for naturalized landscapes


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