Scientific Name:
Actaea simplex
(Atropurpurea Group)
Pronunciation:
ack-TEE-uh SIM-plecks
Common Name:
dark-leaved bugbane, cimicifuga, Kamchatka bugbane
Family Name:
Ranunculaceae
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial
Key ID Features:
Leaves astilbe-like - basal with a stem-like rachis, ternately compound, pinnae margins incised and toothed, most ovate 4-7cm long x 2-4cm wide (terminal pinnae obovate, up to 7cm long x 5cm wide, lobed), bronze-purple; flowers creamy-white, Aug-Sept, scented, terminal racemes, bottlebrush-look.
Habit:
Arching
Form:
Oval - vertical
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
0.7 - 1.3m
Mature Spread:
1.0 - 1.5m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
Central / west Asia, S.E. Asia / Japan / China
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Exposure:
Part sun/part shade, Filtered shade, Deep shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Humus rich, Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Fragrance, Perennial border, Waterside planting, Woodland margin (Caution: poisonous parts)
Additional Info:
Google. Cultivars shown or on campus may include A. 'Brunette'.
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Lobed, Compound
Arrangement:
Basal
Texture/Venation:
Heavily veined
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Compound Leaf:
Tripinnate
Colour in Summer:
Purple
Colour in Fall:
Purple
Shapes:
Ovate
Apices:
Acuminate
Margins:
Dentate
Inflorescence Type:
Raceme, Spike-like
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
4
Corolla Shape:
Campanulate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White
Flower Scent:
Fragrant, Spicy
Flower Time at Peak:
Aug, Sep, Oct
Fruit Type:
Berry (true)
Fruit Colour:
White, Red, Black
Fruiting Time:
Aug, Sep
Additional Info:
poisonous
Bark or Stem Colour:
Red
Organ Modifications:
Rhizomes
Propagation:
Division - below ground parts
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Rust
Course(s):
- HORT 2355
- Level 4 Apprenticeship
Location(s):
- (CGW) Community Garden West
- (GRB) GRass Bed
- (GRBW) GRass Bed West : cv. Hillside Black Beauty
- (PDE) PonD East : cv. Black Negligee
- (WLG) WoodLand Garden : cv. Brunette