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    • Photo of Actaea elata flower by Dianne Fristrom

    Photo by Dianne Fristrom

    This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license.

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    Actaea elata

    Also Known As

    • Cimicifuga elata
    • Tall Bugbane

    Plant type

    perennial

    size

    • H: 3'-7'
    • W: 2'-3'

    planting zones

    • 4a-9b

    More Options

    Actaea elata plant details

    Actaea elata is a broadleaf deciduous perennial with green foliage. In summer white flowers emerge. Attracts bees and butterflies making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with bright shade - shade and even moisture - regular water. Does well in average, rich and well-drained soil.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Actaea elata

    Plant type: perennial
    Plant family: ranunculaceae
    Foliage: deciduous green
    Mature size: 2 FT - 3 FT - wide, 3 FT - 7 FT - tall
    Flowers: white blooms in summer
    Uses: bottlebrush flowers

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Actaea elata

    USDA Zones: 4a - 9b
    Sun exposure: bright shade - shade
    Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
    Resistant to: deer
    Soil needs: average, rich and well-drained

    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    This used to be Cimicifuga elata but is now an Actaea and commonly known as Bugbane. This is one of our of natives found in small areas in the Olympics and more widely west of the Cascades in damp lowland forests in southern Washington and NW Oregon. A good plant with broad maple-ish leaves and tall stems with wands of white flowers sometimes tinged in light pink in late summer. This can get 6'-8' tall but most of that is skinny vertical height so while it is tall, it is not bulky. These have their provenance from SW Washington being seed-grown from a plant we got from our friend Diana Reeck at Collector's Nursery.

    By: Far Reaches Farm

    Gardening facts about Actaea elata plant

    How to Grow Actaea elata

    • Sun Exposure

      • bright shade - shade

    • Water Needs

      • even moisture - regular

    • Soil Needs

      • average
      • well-drained
      • rich

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • green

    • Flower Color

      • white

    • Wildlife

      • bees
      • butterflies
      • deer resistant

    • Flower Season

      • summer

    • Foliage Season

      • deciduous

    See other plant types of Actaea for your garden

    Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Brunette'

    aka Actaea simplex 'Brunette', Cimicifuga simplex 'Brunette', Brunette Bugbane, Brunette Snakeroot

    Plant Type

    Perennial

    Zones

    4a-9b

    Size

    Height: 2'-4'

    Width: 1'-3'

    • mostly sun - dappled shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Brunette' foliage by Dancing Oaks Nursery
    View Plant

    Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Hillside Black Beauty'

    aka Actaea racemosa 'Hillside Black Beauty', Actaea simplex 'Hillside Black Beauty', Cimicifuga simplex 'Hillside Black Beauty', Black Bugbane, Hillside Black Beauty Bugbane

    Plant Type

    Perennial

    Zones

    3a-9b

    Size

    Height: 4'-7'

    Width: 3'-4'

    • mostly sun - mostly shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Hillside Black Beauty' flower, foliage, form by Briggs Plant Propagators
    View Plant

    Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Black Negligee'

    aka Actaea simplex 'Black Negligee', Cimicifuga simplex 'Black Negligee', Black Negligee Bugbane, Black Negligee Snakeroot

    Plant Type

    Perennial

    Zones

    4a-9b

    Size

    Height: 1'-5'

    Width: 1'-2'

    • mostly sun - mostly shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Black Negligee' flower by Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.
    View Plant

    More Options

    Actaea pachypoda

    aka Baneberry, Doll's Eyes, White Doll's Eyes

    Plant Type

    Perennial

    Zones

    3a-9b

    Size

    Height: 2'-3'

    Width: 2'-3'

    • mostly sun - shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Actaea pachypoda flower by Dancing Oaks Nursery
    View Plant

    More Options

    Actaea cordifolia

    aka Actaea foetida var cordifolia, Actaea racemosa var. cordifolia, Cimicifuga cordifolia, Cimicifuga foetida var cordifolia, Cimicifuga racemosa var. cordifolia, Appalachian Bugbane, Baneberry, Black Snakeroot, Bugbane, Kearney's Bugbane

    Plant Type

    Perennial

    Zones

    4a-9b

    Size

    Height: 4'-5'

    Width: 2'-3'

    • mostly sun - mostly shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Actaea cordifolia flower, foliage by Far Reaches Farm
    View Plant

    More Options

    +21 more Actaea
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