Common Black Cohosh Actaea racemosa
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cimicifuga racemosa
- Phonetic Spelling
- ak-TAY-ah ray-see-MO-sah
- Description
-
Black Cohosh is an upright rhizomatous perennial native to eastern North America. It is found in a variety of woodland settings from Maine south to Georgia and west to Missouri and Arkansas.
It prefers rich moisture-retentive soils in partial to full shade and can be slow to get established. Ideally, it wants 2-3 hrs of morning sun. if light is too limited, it may fail to flower. Plant in an area protected from strong winds as it can grow to heights of 6 or more feet.
The leaves are attractive and the showy flowers are followed by interesting seedheads. although the flowers have an unpleasant, somewhat medicinal odor, the seedheads are often utilized in flower arrangements. It is attractive to wildlife.
This plant adds a vertical accent to the back of the border of a shady cottage garden or woodland setting.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Rust and leaf spot are occasional problems of this plant.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Atropurpurea'
Burgundy leaves and stems
- 'Atropurpurea'
- 'Atropurpurea'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Atropurpurea'
Burgundy leaves and stems
- 'Atropurpurea'
- 'Atropurpurea'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Actaea
- Species:
- racemosa
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Its roots and tubers were used medicinally by Native Americans. It continues to be used in herbal medicine today, although it has not been widely researched, and is not recommended as an effective treatment for any specific medical conditions. Also used to make insect repellant.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SE USA
- Distribution:
- USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MO , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OH , PA , SC , TN , VA , WV Canada: ON , QC
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- It is a host plant for Spring Azure, Holly Blue, and Appalacian Azure (Celastrina neglectamajor) butterflies/larvae. As in the butterfly's name, Appalachian Azure's flights are only in the Appalachians which occur just once a year in May to June. Interestingly, the caterpillars are known for eating flowers (versus what many people think of caterpillars eating leaves).
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is highly resistant to damage from deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- White
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Small dry seed pods from July to September.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Hundreds of tiny fluffy-looking creamy white flowers on 1-2 foot long racemes have no petals but consist of tight clusters of many stamens surrounding a white stigma. It has an unpleasant aroma. Flowering occurs from May to August.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The basal leaves are up to 3 ft long and broad, forming repeated sets of tripinnately compound leaflets. The terminal leaflet is usually 3-lobed. Leaflets are obovate to ovate-lanceolate in outline, 2-5 lobed, with the margins toothed or incised.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The flower stem is green to purplish
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
