Actaea cordifolia

RHS Plant Profile

heart-shaped-leaved actaea

Synonyms

Cimicifuga racemosa var. cordifolia
Cimicifuga cordifolia (DC.) Torrey & A.Gray
Cimicifuga rubifolia
Actaea racemosa var. cordifolia
Actaea rubifolia

Herbaceous Perennial

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A clump-forming herbaceous perennial about 1.5m high with dark green leaves to 60cm long with broadly obovate leaflets 12-20cm long, lobed, and heart-shaped at the base. Branched, sometimes curved racemes, to 60cm long, of creamy white flowers, each 1cm long, in summer

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Ranunculaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: 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: E & SE USA

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
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free