- Botanical name: Actaea simplex 'Pink Spike'
- Common name: Baneberry
- Family: Ranunculaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial, Deciduous
Pink
Bronze
- Key features:
- Attractive to wildlife
- Dramatic foliage
- Flowers
Actaea simplex is a dramatic plant, bearing slender, slightly fragrant pink-white flowers in September and October, above bronze-purple foliage. It’s a fantastic plant for a damp, shady part of the garden, and provides a valuable source of nectar and pollen for insects.
Actaea simplex ‘Pink Spike’ bears pale pink flowers, over a slightly longer period than the species, from summer into autumn. For best results grow it in humus-rich, moist soil in partial shade. It’s perfect for growing in shady borders and woodland gardens, and works well when planted alongside ornamental grasses, and prairie-type flowers such as rudbeckias.
How to grow Actaea 'Pink Spike'
-
Plant size
1.5m height
60cm spread
-
Aspect
North facing, east facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Middle
- Sun exposure: Dappled shade, partial shade
- Shade type: Damp
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Acidic / chalky / alkaline / clay / heavy / moist
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does flower in September |
O
Plant does flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Divide | ||||||||||||
| Divide |
J
Do not Divide in January |
F
Do not Divide in February |
M
Do Divide in March |
A
Do Divide in April |
M
Do Divide in May |
J
Do not Divide in June |
J
Do not Divide in July |
A
Do not Divide in August |
S
Do Divide in September |
O
Do Divide in October |
N
Do Divide in November |
D
Do not Divide in December |
| Prune | ||||||||||||
| Prune |
J
Do not Prune in January |
F
Do not Prune in February |
M
Do not Prune in March |
A
Do not Prune in April |
M
Do not Prune in May |
J
Do not Prune in June |
J
Do not Prune in July |
A
Do not Prune in August |
S
Do Prune in September |
O
Do Prune in October |
N
Do Prune in November |
D
Do not Prune in December |
Actaea 'Pink Spike' and wildlife
Actaea 'Pink Spike' is known for attracting bees, birds, butterflies/moths and other pollinators. It has nectar/pollen rich flowers and has seeds for birds.
Attractive to Bees
Does not attract Beneficial insects
Attractive to Birds
Attractive to Butterflies/Moths
Attractive to Other pollinators
Is Actaea 'Pink Spike' poisonous?
Actaea 'Pink Spike' can be toxic.
Toxic to People
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
Plants that go well with Actaea 'Pink Spike'
