About
Actaea mairei is a robust herbaceous perennial that grows in clumps, reaching heights of 1 to 2 meters. It features broad, triangular green leaves that can grow up to 30 centimeters wide, with leaflets that are typically diamond-shaped, lobed, and serrated. In summer, this plant produces elongated branched racemes, measuring up to 45 centimeters, adorned with small greenish to cream-white flowers. After flowering, it develops grey felted capsules containing brown seeds.
About the genus
Actaea consists of herbaceous perennials that grow from rhizomes. They feature compound leaves and produce small, creamy-white flowers arranged in compact, upright racemes that can be simple or branched. These flowers may later develop into toxic berries that can be red, black, or white, or into clusters of star-shaped brown follicles.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Partial shade
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, South-facing, North-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.5-1 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
- Native to
- China
- Fragrance
- Flower, Foliage
- Toxicity
- Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in cool, moist, humus-rich, preferably neutral or slightly acidic soil in partial shade, for example in a woodland garden or shaded herbaceous or mixed bed
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed, sown when ripe in containers in a cold frame or in a nursery bed in autumn, or by division in early spring
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free