Actaea rubra
Red Baneberry · Chinaberry · Baneberry · Snakeberry
About the plant
What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.
Safety
- Toxicity
- Poisonous. Roots, sap, berries. Protoanemonin. Stated for Actaea spp.Plants Poisonous to Livestock
- Toxicity
- High severity. All parts. Cardiotoxic compounds.Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
The plant
- Habit
- Herbaceous perennialPlant Finder
- Habit
- Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
- Height
- 1-3 ftPlant Finder
- Spread
- 1 ftPlant Finder
- Flower
- Showy; whitePlant Finder
- Blooms
- May to JunePlant Finder
- Native range
- North AmericaGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
- Native range
- Temperate Northern HemispherePlant Finder
- Native range
- Alaska, Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
- Hardiness zones
- 3-7Plant Finder
- Note
- Deer and rabbits avoid it; birds take the fruit. Tolerates wet soil if it drains.Plant Finder
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Part shade to full shadePlant Finder
- Sun
- Partial to full shadeDeno’s Garden Records
- Soil
- Evenly moist, humusy, rich, well-drainingPlant Finder
- Soil
- Rich, organic, well-draining woodland soilDeno’s Garden Records
- Soil pH
- 5-7Deno’s Garden Records
- Organic matter
- HighDeno’s Garden Records
- Watering
- MediumPlant Finder
- Watering
- Consistently moist, never waterloggedDeno’s Garden Records
Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.
Sources: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility; Deno’s Garden Records; Plants Poisonous to Livestock — Cornell University Department of Animal Science; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension.
Protocol
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Difficulty High
Clean the flesh off the seed
The seeds are enclosed in a berry
Leach in running water
Duration: 7 days
washed in water and cleaned daily
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
Germination took place at 40, but only after one or more prior cycles.
about 1.5 years from start to sowing. Then 49 days to germinate.
24% germination in 35–49 days.