Actaea pachypoda

Position: Partial shade to full shade

Flowering period: Spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 75cm

Eventual Spread: 50m

Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a

Family: Ranunculaceae

Actaea pachypoda, commonly known as White Baneberry, is a deciduous herbaceous perennial with a mounding habit. Actaea pachypoda is native to eastern North America and its native habitat it grows in mixed forests. Its mid green leaves are compound and toothed. Its white flowers appear as dense racemes and are attractive to pollinating insects. These are followed in summer by attractive white berries on red stems, these berries are eaten by some birds. The entire plant is considered to be poisonous, with the berries being the most poisonous part. Actaea pachypoda may be used as an unusual herbaceous plant suitable for shady, woodland locations.

Actaea pachypoda (08/09/12, Kew Gardens, London)

Actaea pachypoda Fruit (08/09/12, Kew Gardens, London)

Actaea pachypoda Fruit Leaf (08/09/12, Kew Gardens, London)

Landscape Architecture

Aconitum lycoctonum subsp neapolitanum

Aconitum lycoctonum subsp. neapolitanum (18/07/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Partial shade to shade

Flowering period: Summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 1.2m

Eventual Spread: 60m

Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a

Family: Ranunculaceae

Aconitum lycoctonum subsp. neapolitanum is a deciduous, herbaceous perennial with an erect, clump forming habit. Its glossy dark green leaves are rounded, palmate, deeply lobed with up to 7 segments and up to 7cm across. Its pale yellow flowers appear in the shape of hoods, are up to 4cm tall and appear on erect flowering stalks. Its roots are tubers which aids is spread.

Aconitum lycoctonum subsp. neapolitanum Flower (18/07/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Aconitum lycoctonum subsp. neapolitanum, commonly known as Wolfsbane, Yellow Wolfsbane, Northern Wolfsbane or Yellow Monkshood, is native to the mountains of southern Europe. In its native habitat it grows in damp shady places including deciduous forests. All parts of this plant are extremely toxic.

The etymological root of the binomial name Aconitum is from the ancient Greek name for this plant and is loosely translated as ‘unconquerable poison’. Lycoctonum is derived from the Greek lukos meaning ‘wolf’ and kteinw menaing ‘to kill’.

Aconitum lycoctonum subsp. neapolitanum Leaf (18/07/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

The landscape architect may find Aconitum lycoctonum subsp neapolitanum useful as part of a woodland planting scheme. It is also suitable for use as part of a mixed herbaceous planting scheme. Care should be taken when locating this plant due to its poisonous nature, including ingestion via skin.

Ecologically, Aconitum lycoctonum subsp neapolitanum flowers are attractive to pollinating insects, including bees and butterflies.

Aconitum lycoctonum subsp neapolitanum prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It will not tolerate dry soils.

Aconitum lycoctonum subsp neapolitanum requires little maintenance. To keep a tidy appearance old flowering stems may be removed in spring. Large clumps may be divided in late autumn.



Landscape Architecture

Helleborus cyclophyllus

Helleborus cyclophyllus (29/03/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to dappled shade

Flowering period: Late winter early spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 50cm

Eventual Spread: 50cm

Hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family:  Ranunculaceae

Helleborus cyclophyllus is a deciduous herbaceous perennial with a variable habit. Its dark green leaves are circular, deeply palmately divided with five leaflets. Its leaflets are lanceolate with serrulate margins. Its green flowers are pendent, cup shaped, produced on upright stems and up to 6cm across.

Helleborus cyclophyllus Flower (29/03/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Helleborus cyclophyllus, commonly known as Greek Hellebore, is native to the Balkans. In its native habitat to grows on mountain slopes, grassy banks and scrub.

The etymological root of the binomial name Helleborus is from the classical name for Helleborus niger. Cyclophyllus is derived from the Greek kyklo meaning ‘circular’ and phyllon meaning leaf’.

The landscape architect may find Helleborus cyclophyllus useful as an attractive early flowering herbaceous perennial suitable for planting at woodland margins. Care should be taken when locating this plant as all parts are poisonous.

Helleborus cyclophyllus Leaf (29/03/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Helleborus cyclophyllus flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.

Helleborus cyclophyllus prefers moist, deep, humus rich, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil, although it prefers lime soils.

Helleborus cyclophyllus requires little maintenance.