Ontario Wildflowers website

Baneberries Group

  
To see all  Baneberries  in order by Common Name     START HERE
GO TO THUMBNAILS
 
Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae)

White Baneberry and Red Baneberry are very difficult to tell apart for the beginner. The obvious difference is in the colour of the berries: these plants are named for this. However, Red Baneberry berries are sometimes white!

The berries are poisonous.

Here is a summary of the main distinguishing features of each species:

  • Red Baneberry (Actaea rubra)
    • Berries usually red, but sometimes white.
    • Berries have a tiny dot at the end of each one.
    • Berries are held on thin stalks.
    • Flower racemes are generally as wide as tall.
  • White Baneberry (Actaea pachypoda)
    • Berries are white.
    • Berries have a large conspicuous dot at the end of each one.
    • Berries are held on thick stalks.
    • Flower racemes are taller than wide.

THUMBNAILS
 

Red Baneberry (Actaea rubra)
Red Baneberry
(Actaea rubra)
White Baneberry (Actaea pachypoda)
White Baneberry
(Actaea pachypoda)
  
To see all  Baneberries  in order by Common Name     START HERE