White Cohosh Actaea pachypoda
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called White Cohosh:
- Phonetic Spelling
- ak-TEE-uh pak-ee-PO-duh
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
White baneberry is a perennial herb in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). It grows in forests or other natural areas, such as rich woods, deciduous woodlands, ravines, bluffs, and bluff bases. Genus name is the Latin name adopted by Linnaeus from Pliny. Specific epithet means with a thick stalk.
This plant prefers humus-rich moist soil in woodlands and thickets but can be adaptable. White baneberry grows from a thick rhizome but is non-aggressive and non-invasive. It will grow 1-3 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide. It can be propagated by sowing the seed collected from the berries. The seeds will germinate the following year and bloom in the second year. The plants can also be divided in spring or fall.
The small white flowers appear in spring in clusters providing pollen to short-tongued bees but lack nectar. The berries are eaten by a variety of birds, thereby spreading the seed to other areas. The birds are immune to the toxic effects of the berries.
Use this plant in a native woodland, shade or pollinator garden. It can be part of the border or mass-planted. All parts of this plant are poisonous but mainly the berries and roots. Use caution when planting in an area where children and pets have access.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Misty Blue'
Blueish-green foliage
- 'Misty Blue'
- 'Misty Blue'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Misty Blue'
Blueish-green foliage
- 'Misty Blue'
- 'Misty Blue'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Actaea
- Species:
- pachypoda
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK,, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds eat the berries. Bees collect the pollen. The seeds are eaten by white-footed mils (mouse) and Red-backed moles.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- Not edible
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a white, sometimes red berry with a dark purple dot. The berries remain on the plant until frost. Fruit displays from August to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Dome
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The small white flowers are in a cylindrical cluster on a short, terminal, erect raceme. The flowers have very small petals. The sepals fall as the flower opens. There is one pistil per flower. There are 10 to 28 flowers on each raceme. Flowers bloom from March to May.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Each stem will have two or three large, compound leaves. Each is spreading, pinnately divided with saw-toothed leaflets. Leaves may become yellowish when sunlight is excessive.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- The branched, flowering stems thicken after blooming. They will turn a showy red.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- Poisonous if ingested especially the roots and berries can cause death in humans, livestock and pets. Toxic if eaten in large quantities. Burning of mouth and throat, salivation; severe stomach cramps, headache, diarrhea; dizziness and hallucinations can occur.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Unknown, glycoside or essential oil, protoanemonin
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Seeds
- Stems
