Actaea racemosa var. racemosa

Actaea racemosa var. racemosa

Native to:
Canada | ON | United States | AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, WV
Actaea racemosa var. racemosa

GBIF: Matthew O'Donnell

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Ranunculaceae
Genus:
Actaea
Species:
Actaea racemosa var. racemosa

Growth Characteristics

Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
200 cm
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
jun,jul,aug
Bloom Colors:
white, cream

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★☆☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies, native pollinators
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fragrant:
Yes
Fall Color:
yellow

Source: Claude claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929 Batch

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist then warm stratification (double dormancy) — 60–120 days
Germination Time:
30–180 days
Notes:
Seeds exhibit double dormancy requiring warm stratification followed by cold stratification. Germination is slow and erratic even under ideal conditions.

Source: Claude claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929 Batch

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

Source: Ontario Rock Garden & Hardy Plant Society