Overview

Cimicifuga simplex 'White Pearl' or 'Armleuchter' is a herbaceous perennial in the genus Cimicifuga, part of the Ranunculaceae family. It typically grows around 1.5 m tall. Cimicifuga simplex 'White Pearl' or 'Armleuchter' grows best in partial shade and full shade, and tolerates most soils. Its UK hardiness is rated H7. It is native to Russia, China, Korea and Japan.

In the garden

A member of the genus Cimicifuga in the Ranunculaceae, Cimicifuga simplex 'White Pearl' or 'Armleuchter' is a herbaceous perennial originating from parts of Russia, China, Korea and Japan. In the garden it reaches roughly 1.5 m, so it provides vertical presence where light levels are limited. Its geographic origins match a tolerance for cooler summers and winters within its hardiness range. Plant in a spot that receives partial to full shade and where the soil stays moist yet drains freely; it will tolerate sandy, loamy and clay textures when those basic moisture conditions are met. In UK terms it is fully hardy (H7) and will also grow in USDA zones 4–8, so it tolerates hard winter conditions typical of most British gardens. Positioning is more important than soil type: avoid persistently dry, exposed sunny sites and choose a sheltered, shaded bed if possible. Use the plant towards the middle or rear of a shade border, in a woodland margin or in any damp, shady bed where its 1.5 m height can form part of the vertical structure. Its stature makes it effective as a tall background element in shaded mixed plantings rather than as a foreground specimen.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Cimicifuga

Sunlight

Partial shade, Full shade

Soil type

Sandy, Loamy, Clay

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained

UK hardiness

H7

Plant details

Cimicifuga simplex 'White Pearl' or 'Armleuchter' size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Herbaceous perennial

Height

1.5 m

Native to

Russia, China, Korea, Japan

Frequently asked questions

From the Fenn Plants journal

• Notes on DaffodilsWhen to plant daffodil bulbs in the UK, how deep, how to naturalise them in grass, why daffodils stop flowering (“blindness”), and why you should never mix cut daffodils with other flowers.
• Keeping Your NerveHow to garden through a heatwave — the best time to water, why deep soaks beat daily sprinkles, caring for pots and vulnerable plants, and why you can let the lawn go brown.
• Made to LastHow to clean, store and protect garden pots and planters — the frost-proof vs frost-resistant difference, winter care for terracotta and ceramic, and how to reuse a broken pot.

More in the Cimicifuga genus

• 
  Cimicifuga dahuricaBugbane
• 
  Cimicifuga racemosaBlack cohosh
• 
  Cimicifuga simplexBugbane
• 
  Cimicifuga simplex 'Braunlaub'Bugbane
• 
  Cimicifuga simplex 'Elstead Variety'Bugbane
• Cimicifuga cordifoliaBugbane
• Cimicifuga foetidaBugbane
• Cimicifuga simplex var. ramosaBugbane