Actaea spicata

RHS Plant Profile
baneberry

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Actaea spicata?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
baneberry RHS
baneberry RHS

Synonyms

Actaea spicata 'Nigra'
Actaea nigra
Actaea spicata nigra

Herbaceous Perennial
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
3 Suppliers

A clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with divided leaves up to 60cm long. From mid-spring to early summer it bears oval clusters of fluffy white flowers followed by black berries 1cm across

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

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

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full shade Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or North–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
Yes
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
Europe to W Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Best grown in cool, moist, reasonably fertile soil in partial shade but will tolerate most soils if enriched with organic matter, and full shade, even under conifers if watered in very dry weather

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame in autumn or by division in early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Low Maintenance
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs
  • Banks and slopes
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

Cut back after flowering or fruiting

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free