Actaea Pachypoda

Doll’s Eyes, White Baneberry
Actaea pachypoda
Type: Perennial
Exposure: Part Shade
Water: Regular to Moist

One more selection in keeping with the spooky season: I present Doll’s Eyes…

Now, my big sister collects china dolls. Sometimes, when I’d go to visit her, I’d sleep in the room where they were displayed, and they’d be, menacingly perched up there on their shelf.

Watching.

Waiting.
Long story short, I have no plans to purchase one of these plants. But if you do, here’s the scoop.
They are native to the deciduous forests of the Eastern to East Central US, where fertile loamy soil and shade is abundant. Growing from rhizomes, it consists of bright green, divided, heavily-toothed leaves which are grouped (usually in 3’s) on slender aching stalks, reaching 3ft (90cm) high by half as wide. Small, fluffy white flowers in dense, 4in (10cm) clusters arrive in late spring or early summer and persist for a couple of weeks or so. These give way in early fall to white berries with a prominent black dot on the end of each. These are held on short, bright red stalks and stay with the plant until frost. The resemblance of these berries to the eyes of china dolls are what gives this plant its common name, and me the creeps. They work well in a woodland or cottage garden setting, though.

Caution: The berries are poisonous. Please don’t [ugh] eat your doll’s eyes.

Flower photo courtesy of: www.illinoiswildflowers.info

Cheers,

John