Actaea japonica var japonica Silver Blush

Actaea japonica 'Silver Blush' is a large and vigorous, heat-tolerant form of Japanese bugbane we obtained years earlier from plantsman Barry Yinger. The deciduous clump is composed of wiry stems connecting three deeply serrated leaflets, each of which can reach 1' across. Unlike most Cimicifuga japonica forms we've grown from other sources, the leaves on this form emerge silver, highlighted by green veins, before aging to light green. In September (NC), the clumps are topped with 2.5' tall, narrow spires of bottlebrush-like white wands. Moist, humus-rich soils are best, although Actaea japonica has proven remarkably easy to grow in our hot, humid climate.

Formerly known as Cimicifuga japonica, it was found to be in the genus Actaea along with the monotypic genus Souliea in a research paper published in 1998.