When does Red Baneberry bloom?

Red Baneberry typically blooms in May and June, producing small white flowers in dense, rounded clusters.

What pollinators visit Red Baneberry?

Red Baneberry attracts various bees and beetles to its white flower clusters during the blooming period.

Where is Red Baneberry native?

Red Baneberry is native to much of the northern and western United States, from New England west to the Pacific Northwest and south through the Rocky Mountains.

What growing conditions does Red Baneberry prefer?

Red Baneberry thrives in partial shade to full shade with consistently moist soil, making it ideal for woodland gardens and naturalized forest areas.

Is Red Baneberry HOA-friendly?

Red Baneberry takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Red Baneberry

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Actaea rubra

Last reviewed: June 2026

Red Baneberry is a native woodland perennial that blooms with white flower clusters in May and June across northern and western United States. This shade-tolerant wildflower produces distinctive red berries and thrives in moist forest conditions.

Red Baneberry (Actaea rubra) — Photo: Robert Flogaus-Faust / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

Light

part shade

Water

medium

Size

12"–24" H × 12"–18" W

Bloom

May, Jun

Native to

AZ, CA, CO, CT and 26 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast Range Sierra Nevada Central California Valley Southern California Mountains Central Basin and Range

Red baneberry is a woodland perennial that produces clusters of small white flowers in late spring followed by bright red berries in summer. This shade-loving plant works well in naturalized areas and provides attractive foliage throughout the growing season. All parts of the plant are toxic if ingested, so it should be kept away from areas where children or pets play.

Growing Red Baneberry

Grow Red Baneberry in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 12 to 18 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Red Baneberry takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Highly toxic berries pose liability concerns
Woodland appearance may look too wild for formal landscapes
Dies back completely in winter leaving bare spots

Wildlife value

The flowers attract bees and beetles during the blooming period in May and June. Birds may eat the berries, though they are toxic to humans and pets.

Common questions

When does Red Baneberry bloom?: Red Baneberry typically blooms in May and June, producing small white flowers in dense, rounded clusters.
What pollinators visit Red Baneberry?: Red Baneberry attracts various bees and beetles to its white flower clusters during the blooming period.
Where is Red Baneberry native?: Red Baneberry is native to much of the northern and western United States, from New England west to the Pacific Northwest and south through the Rocky Mountains.
What growing conditions does Red Baneberry prefer?: Red Baneberry thrives in partial shade to full shade with consistently moist soil, making it ideal for woodland gardens and naturalized forest areas.
Is Red Baneberry HOA-friendly?: Red Baneberry takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

Does Red Baneberry fit your yard? Open it in Pollinator Patch to check it against your sun, soil, and HOA-conscious filters.

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