Actaea plants
Actaea are delightful woodland herbaceous perennials, well suited to shady gardens or borders. While hostas are grown as foliage plants in shade for their large, heart-shaped and often variegated foliage, actaea boast not only attractive foliage but also beautiful white or pink-tinged bottlebrush-shaped blooms, held high above the leaves on flower spikes that can reach 30cm (1 foot) long. The flowers have a lovely fuzzy appearance, compost entirely of stamens with no petals. They flower slightly later in the season (September to October), providing colour and interest as many other perennials have started to fade. Foliage is lacy and lobed, not too dissimilar to that of Japanese Maple trees. Actaea prefer a fertile, moist yet well drained soil – avoid planting below the canopies of large trees as it will be too dry for them. Plant with the crown 2.5cm (1 inch) below the surface of the soil to help manage transplant shock and keep well watered until established. As herbaceous growers, they die back below ground each winter before bursting back into life again in the spring. Lift and divide congested clumps as required every 3-4 years in the autumn.