White Baneberry (Actaea pachypoda)
ak-TAY-ah pak-ee-POE-dah

Deciduous Perennial Upright in the Ranunculaceae Family

White Baneberry, or Doll's Eyes, is a native Midwest woodland perennial named for its striking white berries, each tipped with a dark spot left by the flower's stigma and held on thickened red pedicels — a look often compared to a doll's glass eyes. In late spring it sends up a short raceme of small white flowers above deeply divided, toothed foliage, followed by the berries through summer and fall. Found naturally in rich deciduous woods and ravines, it prefers dappled sunlight to full shade and consistently moist, humus-rich soil. All parts of the plant, especially the berries and roots, are toxic if eaten.

Pros

  • Striking white "doll's eyes" berries provide fall interest
  • True native woodland plant, low-maintenance once established
  • Deer resistant
  • Tolerates full shade

Cons

  • All parts are toxic, especially the berries and roots — not recommended near young children
  • Slow to establish from seed, needing about two years to germinate
  • Foliage can decline if soil dries out or stays too wet
Why Like One of the more memorable native woodland wildflowers, prized for its odd, almost unsettling white 'doll's eyes' berries as much as its modest spring flowers. Its flowers draw halictid bees, and birds like the Ruffed Grouse and American Robin eat the berries and spread the seed — unaffected by the toxin that makes the fruit dangerous to people. A reliable indicator of rich, undisturbed deciduous woods.
Highlights Grown as much for its uncanny white 'doll's eyes' berries as for its spring flowers — a true native woodland plant.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 18 - 24 inches tall. 18 - 24 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Partial Shade
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet: Moist/Well Drained
Zones 3a - 8b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Birds, Attracts Pollinators, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Fall interest, Fragrant Flowers, Fruit showy, Full Shade, Illinois Native, Medium, Native to North America, Partial Shade, Perennial, Potentially Toxic, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Showy Fruits, Wet, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period May to June
Flower Color White
Foliage Color Yellow Green
Animals That Use It

Fruit:
 

Most Popular Plants
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Ferns, wild ginger, Solomon's seal, and other woodland natives make natural companions.

Photos of This with...

Common Burdock, Early Meadow-Rue
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 06/21 - 09/30

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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.


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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!