Actaea simplex

Actaea simplex, the baneberry or bugbane, is a flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. A clump-forming rhizomatous herbaceous perennial, its native range includes the Kamchatka, Sakhalin and Siberian regions of Russia, western China, Manchuria, Mongolia, Korea and Japan.[2]

Actaea simplex
Aizu area, Fukushima pref., Japan
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Genus: Actaea
Species:
A. simplex
Binomial name
Actaea simplex

Growing to 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) tall by 0.8 metres (2.6 ft) wide, it has trifoliate and pinnate basal leaves. In late autumn it produces erect or arching stems with short terminal racemes of fragrant white blooms.

In the UK, plants are still referenced and sold under their former name Cimicifuga simplex.[3]

They are popular garden plants, valued for late Autumn colour. The Atropurpurea Group have deep purple or black stems with pink-tinged flowers. The following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit:-

  • ’Brunette’,[4] compact form
  • ’Hillside Black Beauty’,[5] pale pink flowers
  • ’James Compton’[6]

References
  1. "Actaea simplex". The Plant List. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  2. Brickell, Christopher, ed. (2008). The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 276. ISBN 9781405332965.
  3. Bourne, Val (24 August 2002). "The Telegraph: How to grow: Bugbane". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  4. "Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Brunette'". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  5. "Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Hillside Black Beauty'". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  6. "Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'James Compton'". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
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