Bugbane | The Morton Arboretum

Family (English) Buttercup
Family (botanic) Ranunculaceae
Tree or plant type Perennial
Native locale North America
Size range Large plant (more than 24 inches)
Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily), Full shade (4 hrs or less of light daily)
Hardiness zones Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7, Zone 8
Soil preference Acid soil, Alkaline soil, Moist, well-drained soil
Tolerances Occasional flooding
Season of interest late summer, early fall
Flower color and fragrance White
Shape or form Mounded, Upright
Growth rate Slow

Size:

Dense fibrous roots mound into large shiny leaves. Plants reach 4 to 6 feet high when in flower.

Native geographic location and habitat:

Bugbane is native to the eastern United States, from Ontario to Maine and south to Arkansas, Mississippi, and Georgia.

Leaf description:

Deeply cut leaves are 1 to 4 inches long and ternately-compound (divided into 3 segments, 3 times). They are ovate and irregularly toothed.

Flower description:

Long racemes of creamy white flowers are often branched at the base of terminal flower heads on long wiry stems. Flowers open in late summer and persist for three to four weeks. Excellent for woodland settings. May require three to four years to flower.

Fruit description:

A dehiscent fruit (follicle) can add winter interest

Plant care:

Best in part shade to dense shade in organic rich, slightly acidic soil. Avoid wet sites. If grown in full sun, provide adequate soil moisture and avoid hot, afternoon sun. Division is difficult, so it is best to let plants remain undisturbed fi possible. Wiry flower stalks may need staking. Seed heads can remain for fall for winter interest and be cut back in spring. If there is a lack of snow cover in northern climates, add winter mulch to protect plant crowns.