Cimicifuga Brunette

Cimicifuga Brunette is a beautiful perennial plant with stunning palmate foliage that is very dark, almost black, and lovely scented flowers in late summer. It is these long, bright pinkish-white floral spikes that have earned this Cimicifuga the evocative nickname of Silver Candle. It establishes slowly, forming bushy, architectural clumps which are very interesting in semi-shaded flower beds, at a time when flowers are rare.

Cicimifuga simplex, also known as Actaea simplex, is a herbaceous perennial plant from the buttercup family, native to forests in Japan and deep eastern Siberia, from Mongolia to the Russian Far East, Sakhalin and Kamchatka. It has deciduous vegetation, emerging from the ground in spring and drying up in autumn.

Actaea Brunette is a horticultural cultivar that develops into a clump of leafy stems. Its abundant foliage is very attractive, consisting of dark brownish-purple leaves from 30 to 75 cm (12 to 30in) in length. At maturity, this Cimicifuga can reach a height of 1.20 m (4ft) when flowering. The plant blooms late, from August to October. Its small star-shaped white-pink flowers, measuring 2 cm (1in) long, are clustered in large cylindrical spikes that are slightly arched, measuring 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8in) long with a vanilla fragrance. They are carried by purple stems and butterflies love them as they are nectar-rich.

Cimicifuga Brunette can be planted as a border, in flower beds, in woodland or in isolation. It is an excellent plant for shady and cool places. You can also grow it in a pot or use its flowers for making bouquets. Combine it with perennials that appreciate the same environments: blue hostas, ferns, pink Astrantias and heucheras with pink or lime green foliage...