Actaea cordifolia Astilbe glossy leaves

glossy leaves

compound leaves form an umbrella-like canopy at the top of the trunk

glossy evergreen leaves emerge from a slowly spreading rhizome

creeping rhizome

We have found it to grow equally as well on clay as in sandy soils

Actaea cordifolia Astilbe glossy leaves(aka: Cimicifuga rubifolia) This wonderful rare native (globally rare ranking of G3) from Virginia west to Tennessee has languished in taxonomic purgatory under a parade of invalid names. Unlike other bugbanes, there are only nine glossy leaflets per leaf on Actaea cordifolia, which are held on a 45 degree angled stem ending about 2' from the ground. The 4' tall, upright, branched terminal spikes end in finger like clusters of small white flowers that