Actaea sp.
Baneberry, Baneberry
(c) Brian Finzel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Brian Finzel · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Perennial · Variable; species dependent
Actaea sp. (Baneberry) is a non-native California perennial in the Ranunculaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Rubus: Actaea has white flower spikes and smooth berries; blackberry has pink-white flowers and aggregate fruits.; vs Sambucus: Actaea has leaves divided into threes with large toothed leaflets; elderberry has pinnate leaves with opposite leaflets.; vs Lonicera: Actaea has compound leaves and berry spikes; honeysuckle has simple opposite leaves and tubular flowers.; vs Maianthemum: Actaea has 2-3 times compound leaves; false Solomon's seal has simple undivided leaves.; vs Limnanthes: Actaea has coarsely toothed compound leaflets; meadowfoam has thread-like dissected leaf segments.
Frequently asked questions
Is Actaea sp. native to California?
No. Actaea sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Actaea sp. belong to?
Actaea sp. is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Actaea.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.