Doll Eye- An Exotic Perennial that has clusters of Berries with Black Doll Eye Center

Zone 3-8  Mature Height: 1-3 ft.  Mature Width: 12-16 in.  Growth/Year: Less than 1 ft.  Sunlight: Partial Shade  Soil Conditions: Medium to Moist

This plant has a flower that the center resembles an eye, thus giving it its name. It has attractive leaves. As the berries resemble the eyes of old-fashioned china dolls, the plant is named thus. This plant is also known as White Baneberry, while the scientific name of this species is Actaea alba. Another species in this genus, Actaea rubra or Red Baneberry, is found only in northern Illinois. This is a flowering plant belongs to Ranunculaceae family. It is a flowering herbaceous perennial plant. The most striking feature of this plant is its fruit, which is a 1 cm diameter white berry. The size, shape, and black stigma scar is responsible for the naming. These white berries as well as all other part of the plants are extremely poisonous. Moreover, these berries are formed with cardiogenic toxins which can have an immediate sedative effect on human cardiac muscle tissue. So ingestion of the berries can lead to cardiac arrest and even death. But even though, it is poisonous to humans, they are absolutely harmless to birds. Being a native to eastern North America, the habitats of Doll Eyes include rich deciduous woodlands, dappled sunlight to medium shade, moist to mesic conditions, a fertile loamy soil with abundant organic matter ravines, thinly wooded bluffs, the bases of bluffs, and shaded seeps, while white baneberry needs to coarse loamy upland soils, and are found in plenty in hardwood and mixed-forest stands. They are also common in Illinois. The compound leaves of the plant may turn yellowish if they are exposed to extreme sunlight.

Choose Perennial Plants like the Doll eye to Enjoy for Homes and gardens

Have a flower bed or garden? These types of plants are excellent to landscape around fixtures like this. They are a native perennial plant so you know they will be very hardy and they will eventually reseed themselves and become thicker as this process takes place.

Wildflowers are an excellent source to provide extra pollination to your garden like The Doll Eyes

Do you have a garden you want to grow? This type of garden plant also works well in the aid of gardens. Some people like to plant gardens around their houses. It makes them look special and give them some food that they can grow.

Botanical Name: Actaea Pachypoda, Doll Eye