Actaea rubra

Drought, seeds & keeping sowings moist

Propagation, Wildflowers of North America

The Seeds shop is closed now for website maintenance, seeds inventory and most important seeds collections. Re-opening in late August, I hope. But no worry, you will be kept up to date on flowering, fruiting & seeds happenings.

The first fleshy fruits are here! Yes, Actaea rubra (wild) and Triosteum pinnatifidum (garden) were just collected. From the dry side: Viola pubescens var. scabriuscula and Viola labradorica (wild), Erinus alpinus and Aconitum moldavicum (garden), to mention just a few. Quite a few other species are under a ‘seeds-ready’ watch at this time.

Triosteum pinnatifidum

Viola pubescens var. scabriuscula

Prolonged drought effects seen in SW Ontario

Sadly, the effect of drought is seen everywhere in SW Ontario; in some locations the mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), Trillium grandiflorum and few other species going into an early dormancy and it is uncertain if there will be any seeds.
In the garden we can compensate somewhat by carefully watering especially the moisture loving species but even so, the seeds set is lower than in ‘normal’ years.

The hot/dry weather will continue throughout the summer and I would like to emphasize again that it is very important to keep your early sowings moist; otherwise the warm/moist stratification cycle will not count as such.
Besides keeping the trays in a shaded place and checking the moisture constantly, there is another solution; a friend reminded me about this way of keeping the summer sowings and so I will pass it forward to all others.

Nothing complicated: just place the pots inside a plastic box with a lid (still to be kept in a well shaded or in a cool place!). Do not close the lid tightly and check the pots regularly. Mine are in a cool garage right now.

Enjoy the summer and don’t forget to collect some seeds along the way; it is always good to have a reserve of seeds, plus there are seed exchanges in the fall and trades with friends.

July 13, 2022

Baneberries

Propagation, Wildflowers of North America

Like it or not, the colored berries of the baneberries are heralds of the summer’s end. Looking at my Actaea pachypoda raised from seeds four years ago, I realized that I forgot to mention the baneberries when talking about what species should be sown first.

Actaea pachypoda (doll’s- eyes, white baneberry)

Actaea pachypoda, A. pachypoda fo. rubrocarpa and Actaea rubra (in the featured image) will germinate in the first spring only when sown right away in late summer/early fall (a slightly warm period required before the winter cold).
A bit slow to start but then they grow with the speed of light. Very useful in dry shaded locations.

Seeds are in stock and also included in the fast shipping category.
A reminder that various species (with small, medium size seeds) can be purchased now by the customers with international destinations using this category (2-6 pck. for 4.50$ flat rate).
More species will be added as as the inventory gets updated.

In need of companions for a native species shaded spot? The following can be usually found growing with the baneberries: Thalictrum dioicum, Hydrophyllum virginianum, Mitella diphylla, Viola labradorica, Asclepias exaltata; from the moist packed seeds: Maianthemum spp., Uvularia, Trillium, Asarum canadense, Sanguinaria canadensis, to mention just a few…

August 30, 2019

Actaea x ludovici

Wildflowers of North America

Last week’s ‘discovery’ after a random wander through some woods. I stumbled into an area with A. pachypoda fo. rubrocarpa, A. pachypoda and… another Actaea which was looking like A. rubra (growing nearby) but not quite. What then? Well, it was the rarely seen hybrid between A. pachypoda and A. rubra – Actaea x ludovici!

: Actaea x ludovici; Red fruits like A. rubra (not shiny) with bigger black dots; thicker pedicels than in A. rubra and the raceme is more open reminding of A. pachypoda.

The hybrid berries contained a few seeds! What would come out of them, I really can’t tell… Flora of Michigan presents a short description; in mature exemplars the thickness of the fruits stalks and colour are a very good indicator, although there are other more detailed differences.

Meet the parents:

: Actaea pachypoda – Doll’s eyes (the pedicels will become red when the fruits mature)

: Actaea rubra – Red Baneberry; The fruits have slender pedicels and smaller ‘dots’ (the eye formed by the persistent stigma. Also, worth noticing that the raceme is more compact and the fruits are shiny when mature.

It seems I have a particular relation with the baneberries. Last year I also found the very rare Actaea pachypoda fo. rubrocarpa (which the obviously outdated Flora of NA says that it may not exist!). I still have to stumble onto A. rubra fo. neglecta…

: A. pachypoda fo. rubrocarpa; Magenta coloured fruits with red pedicels as thick as the axis of the raceme and with a pronounced swollen base, like in A. pachypoda

And just a note for those not interested in the botanical aspect – these are all wonderful plants for the shade garden!

August 1, 2015

A tasty lunch

Medicinal plants, Plant portraits, Wildflowers of North America

The rainy weather of this year has surely pleased all the baneberries (Actaea species). Their fruits are not indicated to be consumed for lunch!!! being poisonous, but they are so attractive. Let’s call them local gourmet foods for the soul and eyes!

All Actaea species make for superb specimens in part-shade to shaded locations of the garden. White, fragrant flowers that attract pollinators in late spring, beautiful foliage, colourful and long-lasting fruits… isn’t this enough to consider adding these native beauties to your garden?

Actaea pachypoda – Doll’s eyes, White baneberries

Good fortune made it that I also found a few plants of A. pachypoda with magenta coloured fruits – which is a rare form given as Actaea pachypoda f. rubrocarpa (not everyone agrees on this, but after I found them, I surely do).