Brunette Bugbane (Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Brunette')
ak-TAY-ah SIM-plex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Brunette'

Deciduous Perennial Upright in the Ranunculaceae Family
 
Buy Brunette Bugbane
Size Notes Price Availability
#1 gallon Field

Blooming (9/22)

$20.00

Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'Brunette' is prized for its deep purple-black, finely divided foliage, which holds its dark color through summer before wands of small, fragrant white flowers rise above it in late summer and fall. An RHS Award of Garden Merit winner, it's slow to establish but makes a striking architectural specimen or accent in a shaded border or woodland garden once settled in, reaching roughly 3-4 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide.

Pros

  • Dramatic dark purple-black foliage holds its color all season
  • Fragrant late-summer and fall flower spikes
  • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner
  • Deer and rabbit resistant

Cons

  • Slow to establish — takes a few years to form a mature clump
  • Foliage scorches if soil is allowed to dry out
  • Needs a sheltered site; flower spires can need staking in wind
Highlights One of the most popular dark-leaved bugbane cultivars, combining nearly black foliage with fragrant late-season flower spikes and an RHS Award of Garden Merit.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 3 - 4 feet tall. 24 - 36 inches wide.
Growth Rate Slow
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Partial Shade
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet: Foliage scorches and growth slows if allowed to dry out; prefers consistently moist conditions.
Zones 3a - 8b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Fall interest, Fragrant Flowers, Full Shade, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Medium, Partial Shade, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant, Wet, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period August to September
Flower Color White
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Hostas, Japanese forest grass, ferns, and astilbe -- lighter companions set off the dark foliage well

Photos of This with...

Checkered Cab Plantain Lily, Love Pat Hosta
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 10/04
2024 : 05/09 - 10/05
2023 : 08/16 - 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.


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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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!