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: Unavailable (Mt hood is in zone 7)
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.