White baneberry is a perennial herb in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). It grows in forests or other natural areas, such as rich woods, deciduous woodlands, ravines, bluffs, and bluff bases. Genus name is the Latin name adopted by Linnaeus from Pliny. Specific epithet means with a thick stalk. This plant prefers humus-rich moist soil in woodlands and thickets but can be adaptable. White baneberry grows from a thick rhizome but is non-aggressive and non-invasive. It will grow 1-3 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide. It can be propagated by sowing the seed collected from the berries. The seeds will germinate the following year and bloom in the second year. The plants can also be divided in spring or fall. The small white flowers appear in spring in clusters providing pollen to short-tongued bees but lack nectar. The berries are eaten by a variety of birds, thereby spreading the seed to other areas. The birds are immune to the toxic effects of the berries. Use this plant in a native woodland, shade or pollinator garden. It can be part of the border or mass-planted. All parts of this plant are poisonous but mainly the berries and roots. Use caution when planting in an area where children and pets have access. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems More information on Actaea .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Lobed; Serrate
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Each stem will have two or three large, compound leaves. Each is spreading, pinnately divided with saw-toothed leaflets. Leaves may become yellowish when sunlight is excessive.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Dome
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The small white flowers are in a cylindrical cluster on a short, terminal, erect raceme. The flowers have very small petals. The sepals fall as the flower opens. There is one pistil per flower. There are 10 to 28 flowers on each raceme. Flowers bloom from March to May.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy; White
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruit is a white, sometimes red berry with a dark purple dot. The berries remain on the plant until frost. Fruit displays from August to October.
Stem color
Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
The branched, flowering stems thicken after blooming. They will turn a showy red.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern North America
Distribution
AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK,, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV
Wildlife value
Birds eat the berries. Bees collect the pollen. The seeds are eaten by white-footed mils (mouse) and Red-backed moles.
Poisonous if ingested especially the roots and berries can cause death in humans, livestock and pets. Toxic if eaten in large quantities. Burning of mouth and throat, salivation; severe stomach cramps, headache, diarrhea; dizziness and hallucinations can occur.
Toxic principle
Unknown, glycoside or essential oil, protoanemonin