This is Actaea 'black negligee' from the Ranunculaceae family. Reaching a height of 1.2m tall this herbaceous perennial arises from underground rhizomes. It has beautiful black to deep purple stems and compound leaves with contrasting terminal racemes of bottlebrush white scented flowers. Flowering from late summer to autumn, this plant is very hardy. It can survive temperatures as low as -20°C. However, after flowering, this plant produces poisonous berries or follicles.