Actea is a genus of herbaceous perennials in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes anemone, monkshood, and delphinium. They are native to subtropical, temperate and subarctic regions of Europe, Asia and North America where they are often found in forests, woodland openings, and deciuous woods. Growing from a thick rhizome, plants have one or more branching stems, large, pinnately divided leaves with toothed leaflets, and clusters of small fluffy white flowers that may attract pollinators. The fruit is a white, red, or purplish-black berry with a black dot which has led to the common name, “doll’s eyes”. The whole plant is poisonous, the berry is especially so, but birds are not affected by the poison and may eat the berries. Acteaes like part shade and humusy, consistently moist, well-drained soil. They have no significant pests or diseases and are propagated by division or seed.

The genus name, Actea, is derived from the Greek name for elder, Ἀκταία, (Actaia) because the leaves are similar in appearance.

Photo Credit: Robert Flogaus-Faust, Wikimedia Commons

The conditions on the Pacific Coast have resulted in at least three native species of Acteas but they may be native to other areas of the country too. The Acteas described here are native to at least two states on the Pacific Coast.

Tall Bugbane (Acteae elata aka Cimicifuga elata)

 Glandular branched stems carry compound leaves made up of 5-17 leaflets each of which is coarsely toothed and has 5-7 lobes. To to three foot long stems carry branched panicles up to 7″ long of small fluffy flowers. The flowers lack petals, have white to pinkish sepals that fall off quickly, and are primarily composed of numerous long white stamens. The fruits are poisonous.

Alternate Name/s: None

Native Range: Washington and Oregon

Habitat: Moist, shady woodland at low to mid elevations

Type: Perennial

Height: 3-7′

Bloom Time: Early summer

Bloom Color: White to pinkish

Light: Part shade

Soil: Humusy, consistently moist, well-drained

USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Mt. Hood Bugbane (Acteae lanciniata)

The compound leaves are coarsely toothed and have 20-35 leaflets. Branched panicles carry the flowers loosely. The flowers consist of cream colored petals and 20-30 cream colored stamens as well as white sepals that quickly fall.

Alternate Name/s: Cutleaf bugbane

Native Range: Washington and Oregon

Habitat: Moist woods, boggy flats, thickets near heads of drainages, meadow margins, and along streams and lakesides, in the mountains at middle elevations

Type: Perennial

Height: 2.5-5′

Bloom Time: Summer

Bloom Color: White

Light: Part shade

Soil: Average, moderately moist to very moist, well-drained

USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9

Photo Credit: Gerald D Carr, Oregon Flora, Oregon State University

Red Baneberry (Acteae rubra)

Leaves form bushy clumps of foliage and are twice divided with 3 or 5 leaflets in each group. Leaflets are up to 2″ long, hairy, and are coarsely toothed and sometimes lobed. The flowers appear in rounded clusters about 2″ across on the ends of long stems above the foliage. Each flower is about 1/4″ wide and has 4-10 white, petal-like sepals surrounding a cluster of white tipped stamens that are longer than the sepals. The fruit is an attractive green berry that ripens to red and is poisonous.

Alternate Name/s:  Coral berry, rattlesnake herb, snakeberry

Native Range: Washington, Oregon, and California as well as in the in the Rocky Mountain area, Southwest, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and New England

Habitat: Moist, woods and thickets, along stream banks and in swamps

Type: Perennial

Height: 1-3′

Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Bloom Color: White

Light: Part shade

Soil: Humusy, consistently moist, well-drained

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-7

Photo Credit: Robert Flogaus-Faust, Wikimedia Commons

The three states of the Pacific coast, Washington, Oregon and California, have a great variety of geography and climate. The key factors uniting these states are the coastline along the Pacific Ocean and the presence of numerous mountain ranges. The area of the Pacific coast includes rainforests as well as semi-arid plateau and deserts. The climate varies with the geography with average annual rainfall ranging from over 130″ to less than 2″. Precipitation can be in the form of rain or snow. Likewise, summer temperatures can be over 110 F in Death Valley and down to -70 F in the mountains.

Also known as wolfbanes, leopard’s bane, devil’s helmet, or blue rocket, these herbaceous perennials are native to the mountainous parts of the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia, where they grow in the moist, well-drained soils of mountain meadows. They are a member of the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes delphinium, anemone, and hellebores. Plants usually grow at least 3′ tall but may be prostrate, reclining or climbing. The leaves are dark green, and usually deeply palmately lobed or divided, with toothed margins. The flowers are usually carried in erect terminal racemes or panicles up to 8″ long from mid-summer to early fall and are blue to purple, occasionally white or yellow. Each flower is up to 1″ long and consists of  five sepals and two to ten petals. One of the sepals forms a helmet-like structure that hides the two upper, larger petals with nectaries in their spurs. The remaining petals are small, reduced to scales, or non-forming.

Monkshood is easy to grow in cool, organically rich, consistently moist, well-drained soil and do not tolerate wet soil. Although they may be grown in full sun in the northern part of their range they need afternoon shade elsewhere. Plants do best when their roots are cool and moist but the majority of the leaves are exposed to sun. They do not tolerate high heat and humidity. Monkshoods are generally healthy but are susceptible to damage by a variety of fungi if grown in humid and/or overly wet conditions. Propagated is by divisions of the root or by seeds.

The derivation of the genus name, Aconitum, is disputed but may come from a Greek word ἀκόνιτον (akoniton) which may come from the Greek  word ἀκόν (akon) meaning dart or javelin, the tips of which were dipped in poison. 

All parts of the plant contain highly poisonous alkaloids, especially the roots. Plant away from vegetable gardens and children’s play areas.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Environmental conditions of the Pacific Coast have resulted in at least one native species of monkshood there but it is also native to other regions of the US. The monkshood described here is native to all three states on the Pacific Coast.

Western Monkshood (Aconitum columbianum)

Hollow stems that are sometimes weak and reclining bear palmate leaves 2-6″ wide, usually with 3-5 deep divisions sometimes with toothed or clefted margins. Widely spaced hooded flowers are carried in simple or branched racemes and are blue, purple, white or cream-colored. Flowers attract bumblebees, hawkmoths and hummingbirds, and are good in the vase.

Alternate Name/s: Columbian monkshood

Native Range: Washington, Oregon and California as well as places in the Rocky Mountain area, Midwest, Southwest, and Mid-Atlantic

Habitat:  Moist forests, stream banks, bogs, wet thickets, seep areas, and subalpine meadows

Type: Perennial

Height: 1-6.5′

Bloom Time: Mid to late summer

Bloom Color: Blue, purple, white, cream

Light: Shade

Soil: Average, moderately moist, well-drained

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8

Photo Credit: Izabelskrats, Wikimedia Commons

The three states of the Pacific coast, Washington, Oregon and California, have a great variety of geography and climate. The key factors uniting these states are the coastline along the Pacific Ocean and the presence of numerous mountain ranges. The area of the Pacific coast includes rainforests as well as semi-arid plateau and deserts. The climate varies with the geography with average annual rainfall ranging from over 130″ to less than 2″. Precipitation can be in the form of rain or snow. Likewise, summer temperatures can be over 110 F in Death Valley and down to -70 F in the mountains.

Actea is a genus of herbaceous perennials in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes anemone, monkshood, and delphinium. They are native to subtropical, temperate and subarctic regions of Europe, Asia and North America where they are often found in forests, woodland openings, and deciuous woods. Growing from a thick rhizome, plants have one or more branching stems, large, pinnately divided leaves with toothed leaflets, and clusters of small fluffy white flowers that may attract pollinators. The fruit is a white, red, or purplish-black berry with a black dot which has led to the common name, “doll’s eyes”. The whole plant is poisonous, the berry is especially so, but birds are not affected by the poison and may eat the berries. Acteaes like part shade and humusy, consistently moist, well-drained soil. They have no significant pests or diseases and are propagated by division or seed.

The genus name, Actea, is derived from the Greek name for elder, Ἀκταία, (Actaia) because the leaves are similar in appearance.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

The environmental conditions in the Southwest have resulted in at least 2 species of Actea native to the Southwest although they may be native to other areas in the US too. The Actea described here are native to at least one of the states in the Southwest.

White Baneberry (Acteae pachypoda)

Each stem has 2 or 3 bipinnate compound leaves that are toothed, up to 16″ long, and valued ornamentaly for their attractive appearance. Dense terminal racemes of 10-28 tiny white flowers grow above the foliage, are up to 3.9″ long, and attract bees. The flowers give way to white berries 1/2″ in diameter and marked with a black spot. The pedicels thickens, become bright red and add interest into fall. The berries are very toxic to humans and many animals but they are eaten by birds without harm and the seeds are eaten by small mammals. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Alternate Name/s: White cohosh, doll’s eyes, necklace weed, toadroot, white beads.

Native Range: Oklahoma as well as the Southeast, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and New England.

Habitat: Deciduous woodlands, thickets

Type: Perennial

Height: 1-3′

Bloom Time: Spring to early summer

Bloom Color: White

Light: Dappled to deep shade

Soil: Humusy, consistently moist, well-drained

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8

Photo Credit: Doug McGrady, Wikimedia Commons

Red Baneberry (Acteae rubra)

Leaves form bushy clumps of foliage and are twice divided with 3 or 5 leaflets in each group. Leaflets are up to 2″ long, hairy, and are coarsely toothed and sometimes lobed. The flowers appear in rounded clusters about 2″ across on the ends of long stems above the foliage. Each flower is about 1/4″ wide and has 4-10 white, petal-like sepals surrounding a cluster of white tipped stamens that are longer than the sepals. The fruit is an attractive green berry that ripens to red and is poisonous.

Alternate Name/s:  Coral berry, rattlesnake herb, snakeberry

Native Range: New Mexico and Arizona as well as on the Pacific Coast, and in the Rocky Mountain area, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and New England

Habitat: Moist, woods and thickets, along stream banks and in swamps

Type: Perennial

Height: 1-3′

Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Bloom Color: White

Light: Part shade

Soil: Humusy, consistently moist, well-drained

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-7

Photo Credit: Robert Flogaus-Faust, Wikimedia Commons

For the purpose of this article, the Southwest comprises the states of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona. Other states often associated with the Southwest are included in other geographic areas. The key factor linking these four states is aridity. The area includes high dry plains and true deserts as well as spurs of the Rocky Mountains. Only Texas has a coast on the ocean which brings more precipitation and humidity to east Texas and Oklahoma than elsewhere in the area. In addition to the ocean, the Rio Grande and Colorado Rivers are significant water features in the area. Although temperatures in the mountains can be cool, most of the area experiences hot temperatures for a long period each year.

Also known as wolfbanes, leopard’s bane, devil’s helmet, or blue rocket, these herbaceous perennials are native to the mountainous parts of the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia, where they grow in the moist, well-drained soils of mountain meadows. They are a member of the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes delphinium, anemone, and hellebores. Plants usually grow at least 3′ tall but may be prostrate, reclining or climbing. The leaves are dark green, and usually deeply palmately lobed or divided, with toothed margins. The flowers are usually carried in erect terminal racemes or panicles up to 8″ long from mid-summer to early fall and are blue to purple, occasionally white or yellow. Each flower is up to 1″ long and consists of  five sepals and two to ten petals. One of the sepals forms a helmet-like structure that hides the two upper, larger petals with nectaries in their spurs. The remaining petals are small, reduced to scales, or non-forming.

Monkshood is easy to grow in cool, organically rich, consistently moist, well-drained soil and do not tolerate wet soil. Although they may be grown in full sun in the northern part of their range they need afternoon shade elsewhere. Plants do best when their roots are cool and moist but the majority of the leaves are exposed to sun. They do not tolerate high heat and humidity. Monkshoods are generally healthy but are susceptible to damage by a variety of fungi if grown in humid and/or overly wet conditions. Propagated is by divisions of the root or by seeds.

The derivation of the genus name, Aconitum, is disputed but may come from a Greek word ἀκόνιτον (akoniton) which may come from the Greek  word ἀκόν (akon) meaning dart or javelin, the tips of which were dipped in poison. 

All parts of the plant contain highly poisonous alkaloids, especially the roots. Plant away from vegetable gardens and children’s play areas.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Environmental conditions of the Rocky Mountain area have resulted in at least one native species of monkshood there but it is also native to other regions.

Western Monkshood (Aconitum columbianum)

Hollow stems that are sometimes weak and reclining bear palmate leaves 2-6″ wide, usually with 3-5 deep divisions sometimes with toothed or clefted margins. Widely spaced hooded flowers are carried in simple or branched racemes and are blue, purple, white or cream-colored. Flowers attract bumblebees, hawkmoths and hummingbirds, and are good in the vase.

Alternate Name/s: Columbian monkshood

Native Range: Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Nevada as well as places on the Pacific Coast, Southwest, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic

Habitat:  Moist forests, stream banks, bogs, wet thickets, seep areas, and subalpine meadows

Type: Perennial

Height: 1-6.5′

Bloom Time: Mid to late summer

Bloom Color: Blue, purple, white, cream

Light: Shade

Soil: Average, moderately moist, well-drained

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8

Photo Credit: Izabelskrats, Wikimedia Commons

Six states are included in the Rocky Mountains area: Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. The geography is diverse and includes mountains, plains, and deserts, and the climatic conditions are variable and vary with the geography. Low annual rainfall and high temperatures are typical of some parts of the area, while snowfall and low temperatures are found in other parts and the mountains of all of these states.

Actea is a genus of herbaceous perennials in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes anemone, monkshood, and delphinium. They are native to subtropical, temperate and subarctic regions of Europe, Asia and North America where they are often found in forests, woodland openings, and deciuous woods. Growing from a thick rhizome, plants have one or more branching stems, large, pinnately divided leaves with toothed leaflets, and clusters of small fluffy white flowers that may attract pollinators. The fruit is a white, red, or purplish-black berry with a black dot which has led to the common name, “doll’s eyes”. The whole plant is poisonous, the berry is especially so, but birds are not affected by the poison and may eat the berries. Acteaes like part shade and humusy, consistently moist, well-drained soil. They have no significant pests or diseases and are propagated by division or seed.

The genus name, Actea, is derived from the Greek name for elder, Ἀκταία, (Actaia) because the leaves are similar in appearance.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

The environmental conditions in the Mid-Atlantic have resulted in at least four species of Actea native to the Mid-Atlantic although they may be native to other areas in the US too. The Actea described here are native to at least one of the states in the Mid-Atlantic.

White Baneberry (Acteae pachypoda)

Each stem has 2 or 3 bipinnate compound leaves that are toothed, up to 16″ long, and valued ornamentally for their attractive appearance. Dense terminal racemes of 10-28 tiny white flowers grow above the foliage, are up to 3.9″ long, and attract bees. The flowers give way to white berries 1/2″ in diameter and marked with a black spot. The pedicels thickens, become bright red and add interest into fall. The berries are very toxic to humans and many animals but they are eaten by birds without harm and the seeds are eaten by small mammals. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Alternate Name/s: White cohosh, doll’s eyes, necklace weed, toadroot, white beads.

Native Range: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia as well as places in the Southeast, New England, Midwest and Southwest.

Habitat: Deciduous woodlands, thickets

Type: Perennial

Height: 1-3′

Bloom Time: Spring to early summer

Bloom Color: White

Light: Dappled to deep shade

Soil: Humusy, consistently moist, well-drained

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8

Photo Credit: Doug McGrady, Wikimedia Commons

Mountain bugbane (Acteae podocarpa aka Cimicifuga americana)

The fern-like foliage on branched stems forms a clump 3-4″ tall and consists of deeply-cut leaves with oval to oblong, 3-lobed, toothed leaflets up to 4″ long. Branched terminal racemes up to 20″ long carry tiny white apetalous flowers 5-6″ above the foliage. Each flower is 2/3″ across and has a foul scent that attracts flies for pollination.

Alternate Name/s: Mountain black-cohosh

Native Range: Pennsylvania and Maryland as well as places in the Southeast and Midwest

Habitat: Moist woods

Type: Perennial

Height: 3-8′

Bloom Time: Late summer into fall

Bloom Color: White

Light: Part shade to full shade

Soil: Humusy, consistently moist, well-drained

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Black Cohosh (Acteae racemosa aka Cimicifuga racemosa)

The compound basal leaves are up to 3′ long and are divided into compound leaflets that are lobed and have toothed margins. Wiry stems carry small creamy white flowers in 1-2′ long terminal racemes well above the foliage. The flowers lack petals and sepals, and consist of numerous stamens surrounding a single stigma. The scent of the flowers attracts flies, gnats, and beetles

Alternate Name/s: Black bugbane, black snakeroot, rattle-top, fairy candle

Native Range: New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and District of Columbia as well as places in the Southeast, New England and Midwest

Habitat: Woodlands and woodlands openings

Type: Perennial

Height: 4-6′

Bloom Time: Summer

Bloom Color: White

Light: Part to full shade (flowering best with at least 3 hours of morning sun)

Soil: Humusy, consistently moist, well-drained

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8

Photo Credit: H. Zell, Wikimedia Commons

Red Baneberry (Acteae rubra)

Leaves form bushy clumps of foliage and are twice divided with 3 or 5 leaflets in each group. Leaflets are up to 2″ long, hairy, and are coarsely toothed and sometimes lobed. The flowers appear in rounded clusters about 2″ across on the ends of long stems above the foliage. Each flower is about 1/4″ wide and has 4-10 white, petal-like sepals surrounding a cluster of white tipped stamens that are longer than the sepals. The fruit is an attractive green berry that ripens to red and is poisonous.

Alternate Name/s:  Coral berry, rattlesnake herb, snakeberry

Native Range: Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey as well as places on the Pacific Coast, and in the Rocky Mountain area, Southwest, Midwest and New England

Habitat: Moist, woods and thickets, along stream banks and in swamps

Type: Perennial

Height: 1-3′

Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Bloom Color: White

Light: Part shade

Soil: Humusy, consistently moist, well-drained

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-7

Photo Credit: Robert Flogaus-Faust, Wikimedia Commons

The Mid-Atlantic region includes Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. The region is characterized by cold winters and hot summers, high humidity in summer along some areas along the coast, and precipitation between 32 and 52″ per year.

Bloom: Semi-double sky-blue flowers in spring

Size: 6-8″ H x 8″ W

Light: Sun to part shade

Soil: Average, humus-rich,  consistently moist, well-drained

Hardiness: Zones 6-9

Care: Low maintenance

Pests and Diseases: Caterpillars, slugs, eelworms,

Propagation: Division when dormant; seed

Companion Plants: Anemonella thalicyroides, bleeding heart, hosta

Outstanding Selections:

‘Plena” ( fully double lavender-blue flowers)

‘Alba’ ( white flowers)

Photo Credit: Wikimedia

Actea is a genus of herbaceous perennials in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes anemone, monkshood, and delphinium. They are native to subtropical, temperate and subarctic regions of Europe, Asia and North America where they are often found in forests, woodland openings, and deciuous woods. Growing from a thick rhizome, plants have one or more branching stems, large, pinnately divided leaves with toothed leaflets, and clusters of small fluffy white flowers that may attract pollinators. The fruit is a white, red, or purplish-black berry with a black dot which has led to the common name, “doll’s eyes”. The whole plant is poisonous, especially the berries, but birds are not affected by the poison and may eat the berries. Acteaes like part shade and humusy, consistently moist, well-drained soil. They have no significant pests or diseases and are propagated by division or seed.

The genus name, Actea, is derived from the Greek name for elder, Ἀκταία, (Actaia) because the leaves are similar in appearance.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

The environmental conditions in the Midwest have resulted in at least five species of Actea native to the Midwest although they may be native to other areas in the US too. The Actea described here are native to at least two of the states in the Midwest.

White Baneberry (Acteae pachypoda)

Each stem has 2 or 3 bipinnate compound leaves that are toothed, up to 16″ long, and valued ornamentally for their attractive appearance. Dense terminal racemes of 10-28 tiny white flowers grow above the foliage, are up to 3.9″ long, and attract bees. The flowers give way to white berries 1/2″ in diameter and marked with a black spot. The pedicels thickens, become bright red and add interest into fall. The berries are very toxic to humans and many animals but they are eaten by birds without harm and the seeds are eaten by small mammals. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Alternate Name/s: White cohosh, doll’s eyes, necklace weed, toadroot, white beads.

Native Range: Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio as well as places in the Southwest, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and New England.

Habitat: Deciduous woodlands, thickets

Type: Perennial

Height: 1-3′

Bloom Time: Spring to early summer

Bloom Color: White

Light: Dappled to deep shade

Soil: Humusy, consistently moist, well-drained

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8

Photo Credit: Doug McGrady, Wikimedia Commons

Mountain bugbane (Acteae podocarpa aka Cimicifuga americana)

The fern-like foliage on branched stems forms a clump 3-4″ tall and consists of deeply-cut leaves with oval to oblong, 3-lobed, toothed leaflets up to 4″ long. Branched terminal racemes up to 20″ long carry tiny white apetalous flowers 5-6″ above the foliage. Each flower is 2/3″ across and has a foul scent that attracts flies for pollination.

Alternate Name/s: Mountain black-cohosh

Native Range: Illinois and Iowa as well as places in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic

Habitat: Moist woods

Type: Perennial

Height: 3-8′

Bloom Time: Late summer into fall

Bloom Color: White

Light: Part shade to full shade

Soil: Humusy, consistently moist, well-drained

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Black Cohosh (Acteae racemosa aka Cimicifuga racemosa)

The compound basal leaves are up to 3′ long and are divided into compound leaflets that are lobed and have toothed margins. Wiry stems carry small creamy white flowers in 1-2′ long terminal racemes well above the foliage. The flowers lack petals and sepals, and consist of numerous stamens surrounding a single stigma. The scent of the flowers attracts flies, gnats, and beetles

Alternate Name/s: Black bugbane, black snakeroot, rattle-top, fairy candle

Native Range: Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Missouri as well as places in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and New England

Habitat: Woodlands and woodlands openings

Type: Perennial

Height: 4-6′

Bloom Time: Summer

Bloom Color: White

Light: Part to full shade (flowering best with at least 3 hours of morning sun)

Soil: Humusy, consistently moist, well-drained

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8

Photo Credit: H. Zell, Wikimedia Commons

Appalachian Black Cohosh (Acteae rubifolia aka Cimicifuga rubifolia)

Large maple-like toothed leaves form a dense mound 1-2′ tall. Terminal racemes appear on stems 3-5′ long well above the foliage and carry densely packed white flowers that are attractive to butterflies and other pollinators. The berries that follow are poisonous to humans but attract birds. For photograph of a flowering plant click here.

Alternate Name/s: Appalachian bugbane, American bugbane, fairy candles

Native Range: Illinois and Indiana as well as places in the Southeast

Habitat: Forests, woodlands

Type: Perennial

Height: 2-6′

Bloom Time: Late summer into fall

Bloom Color: White

Light: Partial shade

Soil: Humusy, consistently moist, well-drained, prefers alkaline conditions but tolerates acidic

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Red Baneberry (Acteae rubra)

Leaves form bushy clumps of foliage and are twice divided with 3 or 5 leaflets in each group. Leaflets are up to 2″ long, hairy, and are coarsely toothed and sometimes lobed. The flowers appear in rounded clusters about 2″ across on the ends of long stems above the foliage. Each flower is about 1/4″ wide and has 4-10 white, petal-like sepals surrounding a cluster of white tipped stamens that are longer than the sepals. The fruit is an attractive green berry that ripens to red and is poisonous.

Alternate Name/s:  Coral berry, rattlesnake herb, snakeberry

Native Range: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio as well as places on the Pacific Coast, and in the Rocky Mountain area, Southwest, Mid-Atlantic, and New England

Habitat: Moist, woods and thickets, along stream banks and in swamps

Type: Perennial

Height: 1-3′

Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Bloom Color: White

Light: Part shade

Soil: Humusy, consistently moist, well-drained

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-7

Photo Credit: Robert Flogaus-Faust, Wikimedia Commons

The Midwest is comprised of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The area includes lakes, mountains, and vast fertile plains that are the “bread basket” of the nation. The climate of the Midwest has great variations in temperatures with hot humid temperature averaging 85-95 F in summer and winter temperatures often falling below 0 F. Precipitation comes in the form of both rain and snow and varies from 43.6″/year to 18.8″/year.

Native to shrubland and wooded rocky slopes of the Mediterranean area of Europe and northern Africa, this evergreen shrub or small tree is a member of the moschatel family, Adoxaceae, that also includes elders. The plant usually grows up to 12′ tall and has dense, horizontally tiered branches  The opposite, narrowly ovate to oblong leaves are up to 4″ long, and have lustrous dark green topsides and pale green undersides. In late winter, 4″ wide, flat, terminal clusters of pink buds appear and open to fragrant white flowers that attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. The bright metallic blue berries that follow are 1/4″ across and eaten by birds. The plants are valued for use in shrub borders and as a hedge or screen. The origin of the genus name, Viburnum, is uncertain but may come from an Etruscan word. The specific epithet, tinus, is the name used by the ancient writer Pliny the Elder (d 79 AD) to refer to the plant.

Type: Flowering, evergreen shrub or small tree

Outstanding Feature: Flowers and foliage

Form: Rounded

Growth Rate: Rapid

Bloom: Clusters of pink buds open to white flowers in late winter to early spring

Size: 8-23′ H x 6-10′ W

Light: Full sun to part shade

Soil: Moderately fertile, medium moist, well-drained

Hardiness: Zones 8-10

Care: Protect from cold and wind; prune in spring to maintain shape

Pests and Diseases: Generally healthy but susceptible to aphids, thrips, mites, scale, mildew and leaf spot. Root rot a problem in poorly drained soils.

Propagation: Semi hardwood cuttings in summer or fall

Outstanding Selections:

‘Bewley’s Variegated’  (leaves with cream-yellow edging, 5′ tall)

‘Eve Price’

‘French White’

‘Gwenllian’

‘Robustum’  (larger leaves than species and pink flowers)

‘Spring Bouquet’  (3-5 ‘ tall and wide)

Photo Credit: Alvesgaspar Wikimedia Commons

Also known as wolfbanes, leopard’s bane, devil’s helmet, or blue rocket, these herbaceous perennials are native to the mountainous parts of the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia, where they grow in the moist, well-drained soils of mountain meadows. They are a member of the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes delphinium, anemone, and hellebores. Plants usually grow at least 3′ tall but may be prostrate, reclining or climbing. The leaves are dark green, and usually deeply palmately lobed or divided, with toothed margins. The flowers are usually carried in erect terminal racemes or panicles up to 8″ long from mid-summer to early fall and are blue to purple, occasionally white or yellow. Each flower is up to 1″ long and consists of  five sepals and two to ten petals. One of the sepals forms a helmet-like structure that hides the two upper, larger petals with nectaries in their spurs. The remaining petals are small, reduced to scales, or non-forming.

Monkshood is easy to grow in cool, organically rich, consistently moist, well-drained soil and do not tolerate wet soil. Although they may be grown in full sun in the northern part of their range they need afternoon shade elsewhere. Plants do best when their roots are cool and moist but the majority of the leaves are exposed to sun. They do not tolerate high heat and humidity. Monkshoods are generally healthy but are susceptible to damage by a variety of fungi if grown in humid and/or overly wet conditions. Propagated is by divisions of the root or by seeds.

The derivation of the genus name, Aconitum, is disputed but may come from a Greek word ἀκόνιτον (akoniton) which may come from the Greek  word ἀκόν (akon) meaning dart or javelin, the tips of which were dipped in poison. 

All parts of the plant contain highly poisonous alkaloids, especially the roots. Plant away from vegetable gardens and children’s play areas.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

The environmental conditions in the Southwest have resulted in at least 2 native species of monkshood there but they may be native to other regions also. The monkshood described here are native to at least one state in the Southwest.

Western Monkshood (Aconitum columbianum)

Hollow stems that are sometimes weak and reclining, bear palmate leaves 2-6″ wide, usually with 3-5 deep divisions sometimes with toothed or clefted margins. Widely spaced hooded flowers are carried in simple or branched racemes and are blue, purple, white or cream-colored. Flowers attract bumblebees, hawkmoths and hummingbirds, and are good in the vase.

Alternate Name/s: Columbian monkshood

Native Range: Arizona and New Mexico as well as places in the Pacific Coast, Rocky Mountain area, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic

Habitat:  Moist forests, stream banks, bogs, wet thickets, seep areas, and subalpine meadows

Type: Perennial

Height: 1-6.5′

Bloom Time: Mid to late summer

Bloom Color: Blue, purple, white, cream

Light: Shade

Soil: Average, moderately moist, well-drained

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8

Photo Credit: Izabelskrats, Wikimedia Commons

Arizona Monkshood (Aconitum infectum)

 Erect to twining or reclining stems carry deeply lobed leaves and blue, occasionally white, hooded flowers. Little is recorded about this species.

Alternate Name/s: None

Native Range: Endemic to Arizona

Habitat:  Wet areas such as spring-fed bogs, seep areas, meadows, and along streams in woodlands and grasslands at elevations of 2900-3350 m

Type: Perennial

Height: 8′

Bloom Time: Mid to late summer

Bloom Color: Blue, white

Light: Partial shade

Soil: Humus-rich, well-draining soil.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8

Photo Credit: USDA

For the purpose of this article, the Southwest includes the states of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona. Other states often associated with the Southwest are included in other geographic areas. The key factor linking these four states is aridity. The area includes high dry plains and true deserts as well as spurs of the Rocky Mountains. Only Texas has a coast on the ocean which brings more precipitation and humidity to east Texas and Oklahoma than elsewhere in the area. In addition to the ocean, the Rio Grande and Colorado Rivers are significant water features in the area. Although temperatures in the mountains can be cool, most of the area experiences hot temperatures for a long period each year.

Also known as mustard tree, juanloco, and palo loco, this short lived, evergreen shrub or small tree is native to South American from central northwest Argentina to southern Bolivia. It has colonized, however, in a wide variety of habitats around the world and is considered a weed and invasive in some places including parts of the US. Tree tobacco is a member of the nightshade family, Solonaceae, that also includes tomato, eggplant, and petunia. The plant grows up to 20′ tall and has many arching or drooping branches and bluish green, oval, succulent leaves that are stalked, 2-10″ long, and covered with a powdery bloom. From spring into fall, large, branched clusters of greenish yellow to yellow or red flowers appear that are attractive to hummingbirds and other pollinators. Each tubular flower is up to 1.5″ long and and consists of 5 petals with lobes at the top. The egg shaped fruit is a 1″ long capsule that is surrounded by a papery calyx and contains numerous tiny brown seeds with textured coats. A single plant can produce 10,000-1,000,000 seeds per year, with seed viability nearly 100% , so has great reproductive potential. Although the plant is described as “spindly” and can out-compete native species to become weedy and invasive, it has often been used as an ornamental because it is drought resistant, tolerates of a wide range of environmental conditions, and its flowers attract hummingbirds. Unfortunately, however, all parts of the plant are considered extremely poisonous. The genus name, Nicotiana, honors Jean Nicot (c.1530-1600) a French ambassador to Portugal, who sent tobacco seeds and powdered leaves from Lisbon to France. The specific epithet, glauca, comes from the ancient Greek word γλαυκός (glaukós), meaning blue-green, or blue-grey and refers to the powdery bloom on the leaves.

Type: Evergreen shrub or small tree

Outstanding Feature: Flowers, tolerance to variable conditions

Form: Straggly

Growth Rate: Rapid

Bloom: Clusters of yellow tubular flowers from spring until fall

Size: Up to 20′ H

Light: Full sun

Soil: Rich, moist, well-drained

Hardiness: Zones 7-10

Care: Restrict seed dispersal

Pests and Diseases: None of significance

Propagation: Seed

Photo Credit: Stickpen Wikimedia Commons