Plant Lust
ShopOrderSellblog
0

  • Plant types

  • Plant styles

  • Planting conditions

  • Seasonal interest

  • Nurseries & Gardens

    • Photo of Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Brunette' foliage by Dancing Oaks Nursery

    Photo by Dancing Oaks Nursery

    Used with permission, all rights reserved

    Show all photos

    Buy Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Brunette'

    Also Known As

    • Actaea simplex 'Brunette'
    • Cimicifuga simplex 'Brunette'
    • Brunette Bugbane
    • Brunette Snakeroot

    Plant type

    perennial

    size

    • H: 2'-4'
    • W: 1'-3'

    planting zones

    • 4a-9b

    1 gallon bagged root ball | $25

    Ships UPS, flat charge based on order total.

    Fewer than 28 at Gossler Farms

    More Options

    Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Brunette' plant details

    Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Brunette' is a broadleaf deciduous perennial with black and purple foliage. In summer white flowers emerge. Attracts bees making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with mostly sun - dappled shade and even moisture - regular water. Does well in average, gritty, rich and well-drained soil.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Brunette'

    Plant type: perennial
    Plant family: ranunculaceae
    Foliage: deciduous black and purple
    Mature size: 1 FT - 3 FT - wide, 2 FT - 4 FT - tall
    Flowers: white blooms in summer
    Uses: bottlebrush flowers, fragrant

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Brunette'

    USDA Zones: 4a - 9b
    Sun exposure: mostly sun - dappled shade
    Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
    Soil needs: average, gritty, rich and well-drained

    We independently publish plant data to search multiple nurseries at once. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases when you buy through our links.

    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    The dark purple, almost black, textured foliage makes ‘Brunette’ an unbeatable accent plant. Try planting it near anything chartreuse or pale green for real punch. The fluffy white spires of fragrant flowers appear in late summer. Though tolerant of a full range of light conditions, Actaea (formerly Cimicifuga) are a great way to add fragrance to the shadier garden. Combine with variegated or golden foliage. Attracts pollinators and seed for birds.

    By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

    Has deep purple leaves that will get 18” x 18” during summer. In late August, thin stems tower to 4'-5' with fluffy upright flower stalks. The fragrance of the flowers is very nice.

    By: Gossler Farms

    Slightly shorter than C. racemosa, but taller than C. japonica, the almost black, beautifully dissected foliage of this named cultivar, is a plant that's never failed to stop traffic along the border in my garden, where its comfortably made itself at home. I can't say whether the flowers are whiter than all of the other Cimicifugas, or its just the contrast with the foliage. The flowers even smell more fragrant.

    By: Sunshine Farm and Gardens

    Noted around town for her purple-black leaves and stems, this 'Brunette' is sure to turn some heads with the gentle way of her graceful, ferny foliage. At the back of the border, amidst the chaos of more summery greens, this dark lady's shadow lingers long before offering up arching racemes of fragrant, slightly blushed white flowers. One of the most sought-after cultivars, 'Brunette' is another incredibly lovely dark foliage selection of Actaea (Cimicifuga) simplex seedlings.

    By: Digging Dog Nursery

    A particularly dark leaved selection out of tissue culture, even showier than the above. ZONE 4

    By: Arrowhead Alpines

    One of the good plants. Great foliage presented in a manner of imposing grace. This can be the star of a container, a focal feature in the border or simply used to play of other plants. It does seem to make blue foliage even more blue in contrast. Long white bottlebrush flowers.

    By: Far Reaches Farm

    Burgundy-brown fern-shaped leaves grow on plants with 2' spread and 5' high late summer white flower wands.

    By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

    A great purple-leaved snakeroot. Fragrant, bottlebrush-like white flowers stand above the gorgeous black-purple foliage in late summer or early fall. Prefers light shade and evenly moist soil. Stunning when underplanted with Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' or 'All Gold'. AGM winner. GPP award.

    By: Briggs Plant Propagators

    Gardening facts about Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Brunette' plant

    How to Grow Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Brunette'

    • Sun Exposure

      • mostly sun - dappled shade

    • Water Needs

      • even moisture - regular

    • Soil Needs

      • average
      • well-drained
      • rich
      • gritty

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • purple
      • black

    • Flower Color

      • white

    • Wildlife

      • bees

    • Flower Season

      • summer

    • Foliage Season

      • deciduous

    See other plant types of Actaea for your garden

    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 'Chocoholic' PP24821

    aka Actaea 'Chocolate', Actaea ramosa 'Chocoholic', Cimicifuga 'Chocolate', Cimicifuga ramosa 'Chocoholic', Chocoholic Black Snakeroot, Chocoholic Bugbane

    Plant Type

    Perennial

    Zones

    4a-9b

    Size

    Height: 2'-5'

    Width: 2'-3'

    • mostly sun - mostly shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Actaea 'Chocoholic' PP24821 foliage by Danger Garden
    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
    Mailing List
    Sign Up for updates on new plant arrivals and deals

    © 2010—2026 Plant Lust, LLC All Rights Reserved