Doll’s Eyes is a native woodland perennial that is sure to catch your eye in the shady garden, but it also carries the common name White Baneberry because all parts are poisonous (especially the fruit). Its shallow, rhizomatous root system will thrive in sites with rich, consistently moist but well-drained soils in dappled to full shade. Racemes of white flowers emerge in May or June, providing pollen to various native bees. The fruits that follow give Doll’s Eyes its common name, resembling the porcelain eyes of antique dolls. Since the foliage is poisonous to mammals, its rich green leaves usually look great until late summer when the plant begins to go dormant. The shining white fruits contrast with their red pedicels as well as the green basal foliage and they will persist on the plant well into winter. Sources: Herbaceous Perennial Plants by Allan M. Armitage Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants and Herbs by Steven Foster and James A. Duke Missouri Botanical Garden Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower CenterIllinois Wildflowers
