Actaea pachypoda Elliott. 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
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© 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
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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
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