Queen of Sheba Bugbane (Actaea 'Queen of Sheba' PP21727 (aka Cimicifuga))
ak-TAY-ah 'Queen of Sheba' PP21727 (aka Cimicifuga)
Deciduous Perennial Upright in the Ranunculaceae Family
Buy Queen of Sheba Bugbane
Size
Notes
Price
Availability
'Queen of Sheba' is a hybrid bugbane bred by Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf, crossing Actaea simplex 'James Compton' with Actaea racemosa 'Changchang' (US Plant Patent 21,727). Its dark, near-black purple foliage forms a striking upright clump beneath tall, wiry stems topped with fragrant white flower spikes that arch gracefully from September into October, just as most of the garden is winding down.
It prefers consistently moist, humus-rich soil in partial to full shade, and like other members of the baneberry genus, its berries are poisonous if eaten.
Pros
Late-season bloom (September-October) when little else is flowering
Dramatic dark purple-black foliage all season
Fragrant white flowers attract butterflies
Deer resistant
Cons
Berries are poisonous to people and rabbits if ingested
Slow to moderate growth; takes a couple seasons to reach full size
Highlights
A dramatic, dark-leaved hybrid bugbane bred by Piet Oudolf, with fragrant white flower spikes that light up the shade garden from September into October.
Plant Data
Mature Size
4 - 5 feet
tall. 12 - 24 inches
wide.
Growth Rate
Moderate
Sun Exposure
Full Shade - Partial Shade
Moisture Tolerance
Medium - Wet: Needs consistently moist to wet soil; will not tolerate dry conditions, especially in sun.
Zones
5a - 9b
(Usually hardy to -20° F)
Tags
Attracts Butterflies, Colorful Foliage, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Extended Bloom Time, Fall interest, Fragrant Flowers, Full Shade, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Medium, Partial Shade, Perennial, Potentially Toxic, Shade Tolerant, Wet, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period
September to October
Flower Color
White
Commonly Planted with...
Pairs well with shade perennials that pick up its dark foliage by contrast, such as golden Hakonechloa, chartreuse Heuchera, ferns, and hostas.
We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!
Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants
Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.
Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.
Estimated Recipe Cost
The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.
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To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.
Shoot us an email at help@northshoreplantclub.com, and we'll be happy to talk about plants or let you know when it's time to buy them!
No Pricing or Availability Right Now
We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region.
It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.
Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!
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