Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Brunette Bugbane (Actaea ramosa ‘Brunette’), also referred to as snakeroot, is a deep-colored, native herbaceous perennial with long, airy, upright, pinkish-white spiked flower stalks that tower over a mound of striking, dark-purple foliage. These late-season, shade-loving bloomers grow to 3-4 ft in height with a 2-3 foot spread. Brunette Bugbane’s fragrant pinkish-white flowers appear from August through October.
Brunette Bugbane is a low-maintenance shade perennial that grows in USDA hardiness zones 4-8. The beautifully colored foliage and lovely flower spikes create a nice vertical accent in any shade garden. The fragrant flowers are great for floral arrangements and attracting butterflies too. This garden workhouse is rabbit and deer resistant.
Brunette Bugbane Care
Plant Brunette Bugbane in partial to full shade: be sure to select a location with protection from direct afternoon sun. Brunette Bugbane likes to be planted in moist, well-draining soil. It tends to grow at a slow rate. Brunette Bugbane will naturally die back to the crown each winter and will regrow from the base each spring. It will benefit from application of a slow-release fertilizer in spring.
Brunette Bugbane is a good choice for growing in containers too. Place the container in a partial shade location. If planting Brunette Bugbane in a container, be sure it has adequate drainage holes. When growing perennials in containers, they may require more frequent watering during the hot summer months than they would if planted in the landscape.
Brunette Bugbane Spacing
Give Brunette Bugbane 2 1/2 - 3 ft spacing all around the plant to accommodate its mature size. This perennial makes a colorful accent in any naturalized shade area in the garden, in a container protected from harsh sunlight or in a woodland perennial border.
Brunette Bugbane Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 4 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Full Shade to Part Shade (0-4 Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 3-4 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 2-3 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Consistently Moist
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Pink, White
- Flower Description
- Slender, fluffy, bottlebrush-like spikes of creamy white
- Bloom Time
- Late Summer to Fall
- Foliage Color
- , Black
- Foliage Description
- Black
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Summer Flowering, Fall Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Brunette Bugbane
- Also Known As
- Actaea simplex 'Brunette'
- Botanical Name
- Actaea simplex 'Brunette'
- Plant Type
- Perennial
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!