Photo of Actaea pachypoda flower by Dancing Oaks Nursery

Photo by Dancing Oaks Nursery

Used with permission, all rights reserved

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Actaea pachypoda

Also Known As

  • Baneberry
  • Doll's Eyes
  • White Doll's Eyes

Plant type

perennial

size

  • H: 2'-3'
  • W: 2'-3'

planting zones

  • 3a-9b

More Options

Actaea pachypoda plant details

Actaea pachypoda is a broadleaf deciduous perennial with green foliage. In spring and summer white flowers emerge followed by white fruit. Attracts bees, birds and butterflies making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with mostly sun - shade and even moisture - regular water. Does well in average, clay, gritty, rich and well-drained soil.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Actaea pachypoda

Plant type: perennial
Plant family: ranunculaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 2 FT - 3 FT - wide, 2 FT - 3 FT - tall
Flowers: white blooms in spring and summer
Uses: border plant, bottlebrush flowers, fragrant, serrated leaves, showy

GROWING CONDITIONS for Actaea pachypoda

USDA Zones: 3a - 9b
Sun exposure: mostly sun - shade
Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
Resistant to: deer
Soil needs: average, clay, gritty, rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

The common name of this native garden beauty says a lot about the plant, "Dolls Eyes", but, that only tells you about the Autumn interest of this old-timey favorite. For in the Spring you have fragrant white soft and fluffy flowers over lush green dissected foliage. Over the Summer months, these flowers slowly turn into greenish-yellow berries and as they finish out their growing season become huge, alabaster white with black dots at each tip resembling the eyes of a doll. Ooops, I almost forgot to tell you about the thick brilliant red stems that attach each berry to the stem. Plants stand about 18"-24" tall and do well in rich woodland shade.
Actaea pachypoda is a low maintenance and long lived perennial called white baneberry that will form a sizable multi-stemmed clump of attractive, dissected foliage topped in early summer with small clusters of white flowers. By autumn the plant will develop white fruit with a single black dot on each base (hence the other common name "doll's eyes) held on red peduncles (fruit/flower stems). A lovely and delicate woodlander and a perfect choice to create a quiet and relaxing vignette in the shade border.
Frothy white summer flowers on 2 ft spikes become curious eye-like white fruit. Each berry is attached by a stubby bright red pedicel to the main stem. They make an unusual and comment-provoking fall display! Clump-forming to 2 ft wide. Minimum temperature: -40°F
Blooms: spring, white, showy white fruit,/ deciduous, large, divided, glossy, green foliage Zone 3-9. 20"-30, Eastern US, part shade-shade, moist

Gardening facts about Actaea pachypoda plant

How to Grow Actaea pachypoda

  • Sun Exposure

    • mostly sun - shade
  • Water Needs

    • even moisture - regular
  • Soil Needs

    • clay
    • average
    • well-drained
    • rich
    • gritty

Features

  • Wildlife

    • birds
    • bees
    • butterflies
    • deer resistant
  • Flower Season

    • spring
    • summer
  • Fruit

    • white
  • Foliage Color

    • green
  • Flower Color

    • white
  • Foliage Season

    • deciduous
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