Asian baneberry is a woodland wildflower from East Asia, best known for its glossy black berries held on bright red, thickened stalks. It is not native to the US, but rock and woodland gardeners grow it in shade. Like other baneberries, it is poisonous, especially the berries.
Appearance
- Growth form
- A clump-forming perennial with unbranched stems about 20–28 in (50–70 cm) tall.
- Leaves
- Large, divided leaves made of toothed leaflets in groups of three. They can turn bright yellow in fall.
- Flowers
- Dense clusters, 1–2.5 in (2.5–6 cm) long, of small, fluffy white flowers in late spring, roughly May to June.
- Fruit
- Shiny black berries on thick, bright red stalks. The flower cluster stretches to about 7 in (17 cm) as the fruit ripens.
Look-alikes
Where it lives
- Range
- Native to eastern China, Korea, Japan, and the Russian Far East, where it grows on shady forest floors. It does not grow wild in the US and is seen only in gardens.
Life cycle
- Seed dispersal
- Animals eat the berries and spread the seeds.
Growing it
- Care
- Grows in part sun to full shade in rich, humusy soil that stays moist. Hardy in 3–7.
- Toxicity
- Poisonous to people. The berries are toxic if eaten.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
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