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.

Actaea

Actaea 'Dark Chocoholic'

Actaea 'Queen of Sheba' PBR is a perennial that forms dense clumps with finely dissected leaves that range from dark bronze to nearly black. In late summer, it produces tall, slender stems that bear clusters of fragrant, white flowers resembling bottle brushes. After flowering, the plant yields black berries.

Actaea 'Queen of Sheba'PBR

Actaea aff. cimicifuga

Actaea aff. dahurica

Actaea alba 'Blackberry Ice'

Actaea arizonica

Actaea asiatica

Actaea asiatica from China

Actaea asiatica from Japan

Actaea asiatica from Korea

Actaea austrokoreana

Actaea bifida

Actaea biternata

Actaea brachycarpa

Actaea cimicifuga

This herbaceous perennial grows in clumps and reaches heights of up to 1.5 meters (5 feet). In summer, it features elongated, slender flower spikes resembling bottlebrushes, adorned with white blooms. The plant is complemented by bright green, divided leaves that provide a lush backdrop.

Actaea cimicifuga var. racemosa

Actaea cordifolia is a herbaceous perennial that grows in clumps and can reach a height of approximately 1.5 meters. Its dark green foliage consists of leaves that can measure up to 60 centimeters in length, featuring broadly obovate leaflets that are 12 to 20 centimeters long, lobed, and heart-shaped at their base. In the summer, it produces branched racemes, which may curve slightly, reaching lengths of up to 60 centimeters, adorned with creamy white flowers, each about 1 centimeter in length.

Actaea cordifolia

Actaea cordifolia 'Blickfang'

Actaea cordifolia variegated (v)

Actaea dahurica is a perennial that forms clumps and can reach heights of up to 2 meters when in bloom. It features deeply lobed green foliage. In late summer to early autumn, its tall, branching stems produce elongated clusters of soft, lightly scented white flowers.

Actaea dahurica

Actaea dahurica tall

Actaea elata

Actaea elata var. alpestris

Actaea erythrocarpa misapplied

Actaea europaea

Actaea frigida

Actaea heracleifolia

Actaea japonica is a herbaceous perennial characterized by clusters of foliage that can grow as long as 75 cm, featuring divided and lobed leaflets. In late summer and autumn, it produces narrow, branched spikes that can extend to 1 meter in height, adorned with small, soft white flowers.

Actaea japonica

Actaea japonica 'Cheju-Do' is a compact herbaceous perennial that features slender, branched flower spikes adorned with white, bottle-brush-like blooms, reaching heights of up to 60 cm (2 ft) during the summer months. These floral displays rise above the finely dissected green leaves.

Actaea japonica 'Cheju-Do'

Actaea japonica 'Minima'

Actaea japonica 'Silver Blush'

Actaea japonica 'Silver Dance'

Actaea japonica compact

Actaea japonica f. peltata

Actaea japonica from Jejudo, South Korea

Actaea japonica var. acutiloba

Actaea kashmiriana

Actaea laciniata

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.

Actaea mairei

Actaea mairei 'Cangshan'

Actaea mairei var. foliolosa

Actaea matsumurae

Actaea matsumurae 'Elstead Variety' is a perennial that typically reaches a height of 1.2 meters. It features dark purple stems and foliage, complemented by slender clusters of small, mildly fragrant white flowers that resemble bottlebrushes, which bloom in the autumn. This plant forms clumps, making it suitable for various garden settings.

Actaea matsumurae 'Elstead Variety'

Actaea matsumurae 'Frau Herms'

Actaea matsumurae 'High Rise'

Actaea matsumurae 'White Pearl' is a robust perennial that can reach heights of up to 1.2 meters. It features slender green stems along with light green foliage and flower buds. In late summer and into autumn, this plant produces elongated clusters of subtly fragrant white blooms.

Actaea matsumurae 'White Pearl'

Actaea pachypoda is a herbaceous perennial that reaches up to 90 cm in height, creating dense clumps of finely divided, vibrant green foliage. It produces elongated spikes adorned with clusters of small, fluffy white blossoms, which are succeeded by white berries supported by prominent red stems.

Actaea pachypoda

Actaea pachypoda 'Silver Leaf'

Actaea pachypoda Misty Blue ('Lk05' PBR) is a herbaceous perennial that reaches a height of approximately 75 cm. It features finely divided foliage in a soft blue-green hue. The plant produces spikes of creamy-white flowers, which eventually give way to white berries that have a dark dot at the apex, all supported by red stems.

Actaea pachypoda Misty Blue ('Lk05'PBR)

Actaea pachypoda f. pachypoda

Actaea pachypoda f. rubrocarpa

This perennial plant typically reaches heights of up to 2.5 meters. It features pinnately divided, dark green foliage and produces slender, branched racemes adorned with white flowers that have a hint of pink. Flowering occurs from late summer through early autumn.

Actaea podocarpa

Actaea purpurea

This perennial plant can reach heights of up to 1.5 meters. It produces elongated, branched racemes filled with small white flowers that rise prominently above its bright green, dissected foliage. After flowering, it forms dry brown follicles.

Actaea racemosa

Actaea racemosa 'Purple Torch'

Actaea racemosa 'Remicim'PBR

Actaea racemosa 'Washfield'

Actaea racemosa var. dissecta

Actaea rubra is a herbaceous perennial that typically reaches a height of up to 50 cm. It features divided, vibrant green leaves and produces upright spikes adorned with clusters of small, soft white flowers during late spring and early summer. After flowering, the plant bears glossy red berries.

Actaea rubra

Actaea rubra f. neglecta

Actaea rubra f. neglecta misapplied

Actaea rubra f. rubra

Actaea rubra pink-fruited

Actaea scidopsis

Actaea simplex is a herbaceous perennial that forms clumps and reaches heights of up to 1.5 meters (5 feet). It features slender, branched racemes adorned with aromatic, white flowers resembling bottlebrushes. After flowering, black berries develop on the stems, which rise above finely dissected, dark green leaves.

Actaea simplex

Actaea simplex 'Cally Dappled' (v)

Actaea simplex 'Hessenhof No 47'

Actaea simplex 'Hugo'

Actaea simplex 'Luftschlange'

Actaea simplex 'Pink Spike' is a perennial that grows in clumps and reaches a height of approximately 1.4 meters, making it somewhat shorter than many of its relatives. The plant features lobed, deep purple leaves that are palmate in shape. In September, it produces pale pink flowers resembling bottlebrushes, which attract both bees and butterflies with their light fragrance.

Actaea simplex 'Pink Spike'

Actaea simplex 'Prichard's Giant' is a robust, clump-forming perennial that can reach heights of up to 2.1 meters. It features sizable mounds of serrated green foliage and elongated, slender stems that bear racemes of fragrant white flowers resembling bottlebrushes, which can extend 30 centimeters or more in length. This plant typically blooms in early autumn.

Actaea simplex 'Prichard's Giant'

Actaea simplex 'Silver Axe'

Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Bernard Mitchell'

Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Black Negligee' is a herbaceous perennial that reaches approximately 1.2 meters in height. It features finely divided leaves that are nearly black in color. During late summer and early autumn, it produces fragrant, creamy-white flower spikes reminiscent of bottlebrushes.

Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Black Negligee'

Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Braunlaub'

This perennial forms clumps characterized by dark purple stems and deep brownish-purple leaves. In early autumn, it produces dense, compact racemes of small, fragrant, off-white flowers, which show a hint of purple while still in bud and can reach lengths of up to 20 cm.

Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Brunette'

Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Carbonella' is a robust perennial that forms dense clumps. It features elongated, branching spikes adorned with fragrant white flowers that resemble bottle brushes, which emerge with a hint of purple in their buds. After flowering, it produces black berries. The plant can reach heights of up to 1.5 meters and is supported by dark purple-bronze stems, rising above a backdrop of similarly colored foliage.

Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Carbonella'

This herbaceous perennial forms dense clumps and features slender, branching racemes of fragrant, pale pink, bottlebrush-like flowers. These blooms give way to black berries, all supported by purple-bronze stems that can reach heights of 1.5 meters. The plant is topped with finely dissected, dark bronze leaves.

Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Chocoholic'

Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Hillside Black Beauty' produces a dense clump of reddish-purple foliage. In early autumn, it showcases tall purple stems that support slender racemes of small, fragrant pale pink blossoms.

Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Hillside Black Beauty'

Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'James Compton' is a robust perennial characterized by its reddish-purple stems and foliage. In early autumn, it produces slender spikes adorned with white flowers that emerge from pink buds.

Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'James Compton'

Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Mountain Wave' is a robust, clump-forming perennial that can reach heights of approximately 200 cm. It features finely dissected, bronze-hued leaves that provide a distinctive backdrop. In the summer to autumn months, slender, branched spikes emerge, adorned with fragrant, fluffy, creamy-white flowers that have a subtle purple tint, resembling bottlebrushes. After flowering, the plant produces black berries.

Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Mountain Wave'

Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Satin Darkness' is a herbaceous perennial that reaches approximately 1.2 meters in height. It features finely dissected, almost black foliage and produces fragrant flower spikes that resemble bottlebrushes, initially creamy white and transitioning to a pale pink in late summer and early autumn. This plant is beneficial to pollinators, including bees and butterflies.

Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Satin Darkness'

This upright perennial features dark purple-brown stems and foliage, complemented by dense spikes of small, fragrant white flowers that appear in early autumn, often showing a hint of purple in their buds. Within this group, several named cultivars are recognized for their exceptionally dark leaves. The appearance of leaves and stems in unnamed varieties can differ, so selecting plants based on their foliage is advisable for optimal results.

Actaea simplex Atropurpurea Group

Actaea simplex variegated (v)

Actaea spicata is a herbaceous perennial that forms dense clumps, featuring divided leaves that can reach lengths of up to 60 cm. During the period from mid-spring to early summer, this plant produces oval clusters of soft white flowers, which are succeeded by small black berries approximately 1 cm in diameter.

Actaea spicata

Actaea spicata from England

Actaea spicata var. acuminata

Actaea spicata var. alba

Actaea spicata var. leucocarpa

Actaea taiwanensis is a clump-forming perennial herb that has only recently been identified. It produces slender, branching flower spikes resembling a bottlebrush, adorned with fragrant white blooms. These flowers give way to small black berries. The plant reaches heights of up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) and showcases dissected green leaves on pink stems.