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: Wikipedia
The environmental conditions in the Southwest have resulted in at least 2 species of Actea native to the Southwest although they may be native to other areas in the US too. The Actea described here are native to at least one of the states in the Southwest.
White Baneberry (Acteae pachypoda)
Each stem has 2 or 3 bipinnate compound leaves that are toothed, up to 16″ long, and valued ornamentaly for their attractive appearance. Dense terminal racemes of 10-28 tiny white flowers grow above the foliage, are up to 3.9″ long, and attract bees. The flowers give way to white berries 1/2″ in diameter and marked with a black spot. The pedicels thickens, become bright red and add interest into fall. The berries are very toxic to humans and many animals but they are eaten by birds without harm and the seeds are eaten by small mammals. Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Alternate Name/s: White cohosh, doll’s eyes, necklace weed, toadroot, white beads.
Native Range: Oklahoma as well as the Southeast, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and New England.
Habitat: Deciduous woodlands, thickets
Type: Perennial
Height: 1-3′
Bloom Time: Spring to early summer
Bloom Color: White
Light: Dappled to deep shade
Soil: Humusy, consistently moist, well-drained
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8
Photo Credit: Doug McGrady, Wikimedia Commons
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: New Mexico and Arizona as well as on the Pacific Coast, and in the Rocky Mountain area, 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
For the purpose of this article, the Southwest comprises the states of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona. Other states often associated with the Southwest are included in other geographic areas. The key factor linking these four states is aridity. The area includes high dry plains and true deserts as well as spurs of the Rocky Mountains. Only Texas has a coast on the ocean which brings more precipitation and humidity to east Texas and Oklahoma than elsewhere in the area. In addition to the ocean, the Rio Grande and Colorado Rivers are significant water features in the area. Although temperatures in the mountains can be cool, most of the area experiences hot temperatures for a long period each year.