Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Actaea simplex 'Hillside Black Beauty' (Bugbane 'Hillside Black Beauty')
1 hour care
per year
per year
1.2m
Max height
Max height
1m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Actaea simplex 'Hillside Black Beauty'
Other names
Bugbane 'Hillside Black Beauty', Cimicifuga simplex 'Hillside Black Beauty', Black Snakeroot
Genus
Actaea Actaea
Variety or Cultivar
'Hillside Black Beauty' _ 'Hillside Black Beauty' is a clump-forming perennial with pinnate, purple-black basal leaves and arching stems bearing upright racemes of pink-flushed white flowers from midsummer to early autumn.
Actaea simplex 'Hillside Black Beauty' is: Deciduous
Fragrance
Flowers are heavily scented and attractive to butterflies
Habit
Clump-forming
Flower
White, Flushed pink in Summer; Flushed pink, White in Autumn
Foliage
Flushed black, Purple in Spring; Purple, Flushed black in Summer; Purple, Flushed black in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
General care
Pruning
Cut back after flowering or leave spent flowerheads for winter interest.
Propagation methods
Division
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Actaea simplex 'Hillside Black Beauty' (Bugbane 'Hillside Black Beauty') will reach a height of 1.2m and a spread of 1m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, City, Cottage/Informal, Low Maintenance, Waterside, Wildlife
Cultivation
Plant in cool, moist, moderately fertile soil, enriched with organic matter. Water thoroughly in dry weather.
Soil type
Clay, Loamy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade
Aspect
North, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Actaea simplex 'Hillside Black Beauty'
Other names
Bugbane 'Hillside Black Beauty', Cimicifuga simplex 'Hillside Black Beauty', Black Snakeroot
Genus
Actaea Actaea
Variety or Cultivar
'Hillside Black Beauty' _ 'Hillside Black Beauty' is a clump-forming perennial with pinnate, purple-black basal leaves and arching stems bearing upright racemes of pink-flushed white flowers from midsummer to early autumn.
Foliage
Deciduous
Fragrance
Flowers are heavily scented and attractive to butterflies
Habit
Clump-forming
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
White, Flushed pink in Summer; Flushed pink, White in Autumn
Foliage
Flushed black, Purple in Spring; Purple, Flushed black in Summer; Purple, Flushed black in Autumn
General care
Pruning
Cut back after flowering or leave spent flowerheads for winter interest.
Propagation methods
Division
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Actaea simplex 'Hillside Black Beauty' (Bugbane 'Hillside Black Beauty') will reach a height of 1.2m and a spread of 1m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, City, Cottage/Informal, Low Maintenance, Waterside, Wildlife
Cultivation
Plant in cool, moist, moderately fertile soil, enriched with organic matter. Water thoroughly in dry weather.
Soil type
Clay, Loamy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade
Aspect
North, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Clay, Loamy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
Created by garden designer Rae Wilkinson the ‘Space Within’ garden at RHS Chatsworth Flower Show 2019, won an RHS Gold Medal, Best in Category and People’s Choice awards. read more
By Rhode Island garden designer Shawn Mayers, APLD. The client is a multi-generational, multi-cultural family that occupies two separate living areas of a new home in Lakeville, M. The house is a… read more
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login