Appalachian Bugbane
Actaea cordifolia
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Genus:
- Actaea
- Species:
- Actaea cordifolia
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 4-6 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- aug, sep, oct
- Bloom Colors:
- White
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Summer Azure (Celastrina neglectamajor)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers shaded woodland environments
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 60 days.
Source: OpenAI GPT-4o