Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Black Negligee'
baneberry 'Black Negligee'
A herbaceous perennial, to around 1.2m tall, with finely-divided, near-black leaves and scented, creamy-white bottlebrush-like flower spikes in late summer and early autumn
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Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
Spring | Black Purple | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Summer | Black Purple | Cream White | Black Purple | |
Autumn | Black Purple | Cream White | Black Purple | |
Winter |
Position
- Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H7Botanical details
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Bushy
- Potentially harmful
- Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
- Genus
Actaea are rhizomatous herbaceous perennials with compound leaves and small creamy-white flowers in short, erect, simple or branched terminal racemes, followed either by poisonous red, black or white berries, or by star-shaped clustered brown follicles
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in cool, moist, moderately fertile soil, enriched with organic matter and mulched. Site in dappled shade. Water thoroughly in dry weather. Flowers are attractive to butterflies
Propagation
Propagate by division in early spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Wildlife gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
Cut back after flowering
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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