Actaea simplex (syn. Cimicifuga) 'PINK SPIKE' bugbane, black cohosh
size/type
mid-sized perennial,mid-sized perennial
usual height
1-1,2m
usual width
0,4-0,6m
leaves
deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
August-September
location
semi-shade to shade
soil type
any (acidic to alkaline)
soil moisture requirements
tolerates (but does not demand) wet ground
USDA zone (lowest)
4 (down to -34°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Bugbane is an attractive perennial from colder parts of Mongolia, Japan, Korea, and Russia (Kamchatka, Sakhlain, Siberia). While its North American brother a. ramose is famous for its healing power, known to the Indians who used its roots for soothing pains connected with women’s problems, this one has no observed medicinal benefits. Yet it makes a statement in a border or among trees as an eye-catching architectural plant.
Description of the plant:
Pink Spike is a dark-leaved variety of bugbane with deep maroon to almost black, large leaves. They are 3-ternate-pinnate, with palmate, lobed, sharply toothed basal leaves. It is very attractive when new, bright green leaves emerge amongst intensely dark foliage. In late summer rise slender, dark stems bearing 30-40 cm long, erect racemes composed of small, pale pink, very fragrant flowers. They resemble cherry laurel flowers both in appearance as well as in scent. They bloom from late August until mid October. Flower buds look like small, purple red pearls. In the wild bugbane commonly grows at the edge of a woodland or in locations with filtered sunlight. It does not perform well in deep shade. You water it frequently you can grow it in full su, too, where its foliage colour will be at its best. Use plenty of mulch on such a site. It loves humus-rich soil of any pH. Once established it can withstand temporary flooding but will be poor or even die in dry soil. It is a clump forming perennial that spreads slowly so make sure it has good conditions so you can enjoy a beauty of a rich clump soon. Hardy to min. -30 °C (USDA zone 5).
Last update: 09-06-2023
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GLOSSARY
- STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
- DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
- EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
- STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
- HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
- SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
- HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
- FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
- GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.
