Hillside Black Beauty Bugbane
Actaea simplex 'Hillside Black Beauty'
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Hillside Black Beauty Bugbane - #1 Container is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Fast, Safe Plant Delivery
Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
| Under $50 | $9.99 |
| $50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
| $100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
| $150+ | $24.99 |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Hillside Black Beauty Bugbane highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Shade
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateMedium
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Fall Color
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Pollinator Friendly
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Fragrant
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodSummer, Fall
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Photos Provided ByWalters Gardens, Inc - www.waltersgardens.com
Growing Zones 5-8
Dark and dramatic fine-textured foliage, the mysterious Hillside Black Beauty Bugbane (Actaea simplex 'Hillside Black Beauty') is an incredible perennial with dark purple-maroon, coppery blushed, lacy leaves with a dark green undertone. They add depth and pensive color to the shade garden!
Black Beauty goes a step further and sends up tall and fragrant, fluffy spikes of pinkish buds that open into white blossoms that resemble Astilbe plants with their similar ferny foliage and flower plumes. The main difference between these two shade-loving plants is that Bugbane blooms later in the season around September and October. The narrow bottlebrushes attract bees and butterflies and look unique in the vase when paired with their lovely dark foliage.
Also known as Cohosh and Black Cohosh, Hillside Bugbane is hardy throughout USDA growing zones 4 to 8, and these herbaceous perennials grow to an impressive 4-5 feet in height when in flower and spreading to a 3-4 foot wide mound. Bugbane naturalizes into thickets by way of underground rhizomes and creates polite banks of dark foliage.
Planting and Application:
Hillside Black Beauty is fantastic for shade gardens and naturalizing in dappled shade wildflower gardens! Nearly as dark as the shade they thrive in, you can create contrast by pairing them with brighter foliage colors like variegated Hosta, bright green Bleeding Hearts, and lush speckled Lungworts. The foliage pairs beautifully with equally lacy Ferns and Astilbe too! Try off-setting the coppery undertones with Carmel Coral Bells or match them with Plum Pudding Coral Bells.
In full shade, the flowers will bend towards the direction of the sun! Bugbane also thrives in partial shade and looks fantastic as edging, border plants, and underplantings around larger shrubs and trees where they won't mind the shade. Acting as facer shrubs, they hide larger shrubs with bare leggy stems! Pot up in large planters (underground or above) to stop any spreading - just ensure they have good drainage either way. You'll gain a fancy thriller and spiller with dramatic dark leaves and late-season vertical blooms!
- White Bottlebrushes With Purple Stems
- Dark Near-Black Lacy Ferny Purplish-Maroon Leaves
- Late-Season Bloom & Pollinator Friendly
- Shade Gardens & Cut Flowers
- Specimens, Naturalizing, Edging & Borders
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Bugbane thrives in highly organically enriched, well-drained soil and loves regular moisture. Plant in either full shade or partial shade and baby them along as they work to get established. Afterward, Cohosh has no pest or disease issues. Mulch with 3-4 inches of arborist bark chips to keep the roots cool and moist.
- Full Shade & Partial Shade
- Moist Rich Well-Drained Soil
- Disease and Pest Resistant
- Clean Mounds in Early Spring & Divide Every 3-5 Years
- Easy Care & Low Maintenance
Hillside Black Beauty Bugbane adds dramatic depth and unique color and form to your shade gardens! Purple black foliage and white bottlebrush spiked perennials are available now at NatureHills.com!
