Actaea spicata
Baneberry · Herb Christopher · Eurasian Baneberry
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.
The plant
- Habit
- Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
- Native range
- Afghanistan, Albania, Altay, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Partial to full shade
- Soil
- Rich, organic, well-draining woodland soil
- Soil pH
- 5-7
- Organic matter
- High
- Watering
- Consistently moist, never waterlogged
Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.
Sources: 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.
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
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 6 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.
Deno's A. spicata figures are not in the quotation we hold; the steps are the genus method.