Growing Guide
 
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Red Baneberry

Herbaceous Perennial Flower, Wildflower

Also known as Snakeberry
Actaea rubra
Ranunculaceae Family
Synonym: Actea erythrocarpa, Actea spicata var. rubra

Perfect for shaded woodland settings, Red Baneberry brings showy fall color to the shade garden with clusters of poisonous red berries borne on green stalks.

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Site Characteristics
Sunlight:
  • part shade
  • full shade

Soil conditions:

  • requires well-drained soil
  • tolerates damp soil
Woodland plant, prefers rich soil that is kept moist but not soggy.

Hardiness zones:

  • 3 to 9
Sometimes reported hardy to Zone 2. May be difficult to grow in hot areas Zone 7 and warmer.
Plant Traits

Lifecycle: perennial

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 1.5 to 3.5 feet

Spread: 1 to 2.5 feet

Bloom time: late spring

Flower color: white

Small flowers are fluffy and dome-shaped.

Foliage color: medium green

Foliage texture: fine

Loose and airy.

Shape:

  • cushion, mound or clump
  • loose and formless

Shape in flower: same as above

Special Considerations
Special characteristics:
  • deer resistant
  • non-aggressive
  • non-invasive
  • native to North America - Eastern North America
  • bears ornamental fruit - Clusters of red berries on green stalks in fall.
Growing Information
How to plant:

Propagate by seed, division or separation - Divide in spring or autumn. Can be easily grown from seeds freshly harvested from berries (remove the flesh of the fruit and sow the bare seeds), but may take more than 1 year to germinate from dried seed.

Maintenance and care:
Remove dead foliage in fall after berries drop.

More growing information: How to Grow Perennials