'Black Negligee'

Actaea simplex 'Black Negligee' (Atropurpurea Group) formerly called Cimicifuga racemosa, also called Actaea racemosa, commonly called Bugbane, Black Bugbane, Black Snakeroot, Cohosh, Black Cohosh or even Autumn Snakeroot, from the family Ranunculaceae, recently moved from the genus Cimicifuga to Actaea, 'Black Negligee' being one of the dark-leaved cultivars, along with other popular ones, 'James Compton' (2 just to the left of this negligee plant), 'Hillside Black Beauty,' 'Brunette' and 'Pink Spike.' Oops, I found one more common name--baneberry, another reference to its bug repellent property. And in the Actaea genus is another plant with the common name "Fairy Candles."

I am using this  post, not to put you to sleep, but to demonstrate how complicated learning the names for a favorite plant can be. When I planted 3 perennial "bugbanes" a couple of years ago, I made a point of learning all of the above data and could easily regurgitate it on a good day--excellent mental exercise for an aging gardener. Someone who desired this (not a cheap cultivar, either) handsome dark-leaved specimen with the fine textured foliage, recently asked what it was--Aunt V. was at a loss to recall the name (names), and how can you blame her?

This very shady lady is desirable for purple stems, dark leaves, which can turn a darker purple as they age or get more sun, and late summer white gooseneck spires which tower over the foliage.

In a previous post I featured the 'Black Lace' Elderberry shrub. I'm wondering if there is a pattern here of giving sexier names to plants in order to attract buyers?


Photo added 7/3/12:

Cimicifuga simplex 'Brunette