Tall Bugbane
Actaea elata
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Wikimedia: Alex Abair (www.inaturalist.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Genus:
- Actaea
- Species:
- Actaea elata
- USDA Symbol:
- ACEL4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- white
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Fall Color:
- yellow
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers shaded woodland environments
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist then warm stratification (double dormancy) — 90–120 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–180 days
- Notes:
- Seeds exhibit double dormancy requiring warm stratification followed by cold stratification. Germination can be erratic and slow, often taking up to two years.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Two weeks exposure to warm temperatures followed by 90 days of cool/moist stratification.
Establishment: This plant is commonly found in Oregon, Washington and the western portion of Canada.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Seedlings must be grown at less than 20° and can overwinter at -20°, prick out while small, seed is viable for at least 6m