Actaea pachypoda Elliott. Section: Actaea. Common name: White Baneberry, Dolls'-eyes, White Cohosh. Phenology: Mar-May; Jul-Oct. Habitat: Rich cove forests and slopes. Distribution: QC and MN south to c. GA, FL Panhandle, s. AL, s. MS, e. LA, and OK.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Can, F, Fl2, FNA3, Il, K4, Mi, Mo3, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, RAB, Tn, Va, W, WH3, Compton, Culham, & Jury (1998); = Actaea alba (L.) Mill. — C, G, GrPl, S, S13, Tat, probably misapplied; > Actaea pachypoda Elliott. Basionym: Actaea pachypoda Elliott 1824 [1821]
Links to other floras: = Actaea pachypoda - FNA3
Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: UPL
- Midwest: FACU
- Northcentral & Northeast: UPL
Heliophily ⓘ: 2
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.
© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷Feedback
See something wrong or missing on about Actaea pachypoda? Let us know here: (Please include your name and email if at all complicated so we can clarify if needed.) We greatly appreciate feedback, and will include updates from you in our next webapp update, which can take a few months. If a species is not keyed, that's because keying is ongoing. Please don't send us feedback about unkeyed species.
Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial growing in heavy shade of rich, mesic cove forests and bottomland forests.
Stems: Stems simple and smooth.
Leaves: Leaves 2-3, each 2 times divided into 3 leaflets; leaflets to 2 in. long, variable in shape and lobing, with acute tips and coarsely toothed margins, smooth.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in a compact raceme (to 3 in. long) on a smooth stem above leaves, each flower on a stalk that thickens and becomes red in fruit; flowers white, to ½ in. wide, consisting of an ovary with stout style and numerous, prominent white stamens (plus several indistinct petals).
Fruits: Fruit a round, white berry with black center spot (suggesting dolls' eyes) on a coral red stalk.
Comments: Flowers and leaves of A. racemosa (see p. xx) are very similar.
Height: 1-2 1/2 ft.
plant sale text: Baneberry produces upright racemes of small creamy-white flowers in late spring. Its flowers are delicate in appearance and pleasantly scented. They are followed by bright red berries that are showy for many weeks. This is a choice species that is rarely offered for sale. This southeastern native perennial is tough and long-lived. It is easy to grow and transplants easily as a young container-grown plant. It is difficult to move once it has established its thick root system, so take care to plant it where it can remain long-term. Baneberry typically grows in rich woodlands of the N.C. mountains.
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial growing in heavy shade of rich, mesic cove forests and bottomland forests.
stems: Stems simple and smooth.
leaves: Leaves 2-3, each 2 times divided into 3 leaflets; leaflets to 2 in. long, variable in shape and lobing, with acute tips and coarsely toothed margins, smooth.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in a compact raceme (to 3 in. long) on a smooth stem above leaves, each flower on a stalk that thickens and becomes red in fruit; flowers white, to ½ in. wide, consisting of an ovary with stout style and numerous, prominent white stamens (plus several indistinct petals).
fruits: Fruit a round, white berry with black center spot (suggesting dolls' eyes) on a coral red stalk.
comments: Flowers and leaves of A. racemosa (see p. xx) are very similar.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern North America
0 unsaved edits on this page.