With this shade-loving native perennial, the cottonball clusters of spring bloom are just a bonus.  It's grown primarily for the clusters of pea-size white berries that ripen in mid-summer on bright red stems,  and its handsome lobed foliage. Another plus...if it's happy it will naturalize, making it ideal for a woodland or native garden.

There are over 35 different species of bugbane or Actaea,
spanning Europe, Asia, and North America. They're generally woodland
plants, happiest in dappled shade and cool, consistently moist soil.
Most form mounds of toothed leaves and then in mid-summer send up spikes
of tightly packed flowers, often followed by conspicuous berries. NOTE:
Berries are poisonous to people and rabbits; harmless to birds and
butterflies.