Black Cohosh
Actaea racemosa
Also listed as Cimicifuga racemosa, Botrophis serpentaria
Also known as Black Snakeroot, Black Bugbane, Black Baneberry
Climate Match for your location
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Black Cohosh is a native woodland perennial with tall spires of fragrant white flowers that emerge in summer above deeply lobed foliage. It is valued in permaculture for its medicinal properties and its role in shaded forest gardens.
Why grow it
Black Cohosh is a reliable choice for deep shade environments where many other flowering perennials struggle, offering dense summer blooms without deadheading requirements. Compared to other woodland shade plants, it combines extended seasonal interest (spring emergence through fall seed pods) with established traditional use, making it a practical addition to shaded forest garden layers where light competition is intense.
Watch out for
Establishment can be slow in the first year or two, so patience with growth rate is typical. Plants prefer consistently moist soils and may struggle in hot, dry conditions typical of warmer regions, even in shade. Rhizome division or seed propagation can be labor-intensive for home gardeners, so plan accordingly if scaling up plantings.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Black Cohosh is a native woodland perennial with tall spires of fragrant white flowers that emerge in summer above deeply lobed foliage. It is valued in permaculture for its medicinal properties and its role in shaded forest gardens.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Black Cohosh grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Black Cohosh is a reliable choice for deep shade environments where many other flowering perennials struggle, offering dense summer blooms without deadheading requirements. Compared to other woodland shade plants, it combines extended seasonal interest (spring emergence through fall seed pods) with established traditional use, making it a practical addition to shaded forest garden layers where light competition is intense.
Watch out for
Establishment can be slow in the first year or two, so patience with growth rate is typical. Plants prefer consistently moist soils and may struggle in hot, dry conditions typical of warmer regions, even in shade. Rhizome division or seed propagation can be labor-intensive for home gardeners, so plan accordingly if scaling up plantings.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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