Actaea rubra - Red Baneberry

Family:	Ranunculaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.5
Width:	0.3
Synonyms:	A. arguta. Nutt.
Range:	N. America - Alaska to California and eastwards to Newfoundland and Philadelphia.

Actaea rubra (Red Baneberry) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.5m and a width of 0.3m . It has a hardness rating of 3.
Red Baneberry will flower in December to January. the seeds ripen from January to February
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by

Soil Information

Red Baneberry will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Red Baneberry prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Red Baneberry can grow in full or semi shaded areas.

Moist shady areas, rich open woods and dry slopes[172, 222].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Works within dappled Shade
• Is suited to a deeply shaded location

Cultivation Details

Tolerates most conditions[233], but prefers a humus-rich moist soil in light shade[200, 233] doing well amongst shrubs and in light woods[1]. Also succeeds in denser shade[187]. Plants are hardy to at least -20°c[187]. A very ornamental plant[1]. Actaea rubra is part of a circumboreal complex and is very similar to the black-fruited European species A . spicata (L.) with which it is sometimes considered conspecific[270]. The western North American plants of A . rubra have been called A . arguta and were distinguished on the basis of their smaller berries, more pubescent leaves, and narrow, more dissected leaflets. Those distinctions, however, are weak; specimens from the West often have fruits and leaves similar to those of plants from the East[270]. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[54].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 0/5
None known

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 2/5
The whole plant, but especially the root, is analgesic, antirheumatic, galactogogue and rubefacient[172, 257]. The plant was often used medicinally by North American Indian tribes, though modern users should be aware of the plants potential toxicity. A tea made from the root is used as an appetizer, in the treatment of stomach pains, coughs, colds, menstrual irregularities, post partum pains, to increase milk flow and as a purgative after childbirth[222, 257]. Great caution should be employed if using this plant internally, the rootstock is a violent purgative, irritant and emetic[212].

• Analgesic - Relieves pain.
• Antirheumatic - Treats rheumatism.
• Appetizer - Improves the appetite
• Emetic - Induces vomiting.
• Galactogogue - Promotes the flow of milk in a nursing mother.
• Purgative - A drastic laxative causing a cleansing or watery evacuation of the bowels, usually with a griping pain.
• Rubefacient - A counter-irritant and external stimulant, it produces inflammation and redness of the skin.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame or outdoors in a moist shaded seedbed[200]. The seed has a limited viability[200], it can also be sown in spring in a cold frame but germination rates may be poor. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer of the following year. Division in March or October.

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant are toxic[172], apparently acting upon the heart[212].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

Flora of N. America

Author:
Rating: http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
Publisher : An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
Date of Publication : 0

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