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Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) ‘Hillside Black Beauty’ (Baneberry)

Baneberry 'Hillside Black Beauty', Bugbane 'Hillside Black Beauty', Cimicifuga Ramosa 'Hillside Black Beauty', Cimicifuga simplex 'Hillside Black Beauty', Cohosh 'Hillside Black Beauty', Actaea simplex 'Hillside Black Beauty', Hillside Black Beauty Snakeroot

AGM Award
Actaea Simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Hillside Black Beauty', Baneberry 'Hillside Black Beauty', Bugbane 'Hillside Black Beauty', Cimicifuga Ramosa 'Hillside Black Beauty', Cimicifuga simplex 'Hillside Black Beauty', Cohosh 'Hillside Black Beauty', Hillside Black Beauty Snakeroot
Actaea Simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Hillside Black Beauty', Baneberry 'Hillside Black Beauty', Bugbane 'Hillside Black Beauty', Cimicifuga Ramosa 'Hillside Black Beauty', Cimicifuga simplex 'Hillside Black Beauty', Cohosh 'Hillside Black Beauty', Hillside Black Beauty Snakeroot
Actaea Simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Hillside Black Beauty', Baneberry 'Hillside Black Beauty', Bugbane 'Hillside Black Beauty', Cimicifuga Ramosa 'Hillside Black Beauty', Cimicifuga simplex 'Hillside Black Beauty', Cohosh 'Hillside Black Beauty', Hillside Black Beauty Snakeroot

Striking all summer long, award-winning Actaea simplex ‘Hillside Black Beauty’ (Baneberry) is a beautiful perennial with dark reddish-purple, finely divided foliage, enhanced by gracefully arching wands of scented, pale pink flowers in late summer and fall. Their strong fragrance is reminiscent of summer phlox and ripe purple grapes. The flowers are packed in fluffy spikes along purple waving stems. ‘Hillside Black Beauty’ provides interest for months and its foliage does not fade as the season progresses. Plant it with a group of white primula candelabras, and it will take your breath away. A statuesque plant and a fantastic shade perennial.

  • Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
  • Typically grows up to 4-5 ft. tall (120-150 cm) and 6 ft. wide (180 cm). Plants will take about 3 years to develop into a mature clump.
  • Thrives in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Moist, moderately fertile soil enriched with organic matter is preferred. Don’t let the soil dry out, or the foliage will suffer. Provide a sheltered location from strong winds. The flower spires tend to bend toward bright light when grown in substantial shade.
  • Trouble-free and easy to care for, Baneberry is a welcomed addition to beds, borders, woodlands, cottage gardens, and naturalized areas.
  • Attracts birds and butterflies and deer ignore it!
  • Cut back after flowering or fruiting. Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame in fall or by division in early spring

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 8
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 17
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Ranunculaceae
Genus Actaea
Common names Snakeroot, Cohosh, Bugbane, Baneberry
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Summer (Late)
Fall
Height 4' - 5'
(120cm - 150cm)
Spread 5' - 6'
(150cm - 180cm)
Spacing 72" (180cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Full Shade, Deer, Rabbit
Attracts Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Bees, Birds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Actaea rubra (Red Baneberry)
Actaea pachypoda (White Baneberry)
Actaea racemosa (Black Cohosh)
Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) ‘Mountain Wave’ (Baneberry)
Actaea simplex ‘Pink Spike’ (Baneberry)
Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) ‘Black Negligee’ (Baneberry)

Recommended Companion Plants

Aster novae-angliae (New England Aster)
Hakonechloa macra (Hakone Grass)
Hosta (Plantain Lily)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

30 Great Perennials for Shade
Actaea simplex (Bugbane)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 8
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 17
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Ranunculaceae
Genus Actaea
Common names Snakeroot, Cohosh, Bugbane, Baneberry
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Summer (Late)
Fall
Height 4' - 5'
(120cm - 150cm)
Spread 5' - 6'
(150cm - 180cm)
Spacing 72" (180cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Full Shade, Deer, Rabbit
Attracts Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Bees, Birds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Guides with
Actaea (Baneberry)
Not sure which Actaea (Baneberry) to pick?
Compare Now

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