Actaea mairei
Maire's actaea
A clump-forming herbaceous perennial 1-2m high with triangular green leaves which are up to 30cm wide and 2- or 3-ternate-pinnate with diamond-shaped, usually lobed, toothed leaflets, and branched racemes, to 45cm long, of small, greenish, cream-white flowers in summer followed by grey felted capsules with brown seeds; the scent of the leaves and flowers is considered unpleasant by some
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
1.5–2.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Cream Green White | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or North–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H7Botanical details
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Potentially harmful
- Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
- Genus
Actaea are rhizomatous herbaceous perennials with compound leaves and small creamy-white flowers in short, erect, simple or branched terminal racemes, followed either by poisonous red, black or white berries, or by star-shaped clustered brown follicles
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- China
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in cool, moist, humus-rich, preferably neutral or slightly acidic soil in partial shade, for example in a woodland garden or shaded herbaceous or mixed bed
Propagation
Propagate by seed, sown when ripe in containers in a cold frame or in a nursery bed in autumn, or by division in early spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Wildlife gardens
- Low Maintenance
- Flower borders and beds
- Cut flowers
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.