Actaea spicata var. spicata

Actaea spicata var. spicata

Native to:
Albania | Austria | Baltic States | Belarus | Belgium | Bulgaria | Czechia-Slovakia | Denmark | Finland | France | Germany | Greece | Hungary | Iran | Italy | Kazakhstan | Krym | Netherlands | North Caucasus | Norway | NW. Balkan Pen. | Poland | Romania | Russia | Spain | Sweden | Switzerland | Transcaucasus | Türkiye | Ukraine

Taxonomy

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

Growth Characteristics

Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
60 cm
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
may,jun
Bloom Colors:
white

Keystone Species Ranking

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

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds
Deer Resistant:
Yes

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

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist then warm stratification (double dormancy) — 90–120 days
Germination Time:
30–365 days
Notes:
Seeds exhibit double dormancy requiring warm stratification followed by cold stratification. Germination may be delayed to second spring.

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