Actaea racemosa (Black Cohosh)
Black Snakeroot, Bugbane, Black Cohosh, Cohosh Bugbane, Cimicifuga racemosa, Cimicifuga racemosa var. racemosa
Striking all summer long, award-winning Actaea racemosa (Black Cohosh) is a beautiful perennial with deep green, finely divided foliage, enhanced by gracefully arching wands of fragrant white flowers in late summer and fall. The blooms are packed in fluffy spikes, up to 2 ft. long (60 cm), which rise well above the foliage and mature into attractive seed pods. A standout as a vertical accent plant in the shade garden, where its flowers will shine as fairy candles.
- Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
- Typically grows up to 4-6 ft. tall (120-180 cm) and 2-4 ft. wide (60-120 cm). Plants will take about 3 years to develop into a mature clump.
- Thrives in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Moist, moderately fertile soil, enriched with organic matter is preferred. Don’t let the soil dry out or the foliage will suffer. Provide a sheltered location from strong winds. The flower spires tend to bend toward bright light when grown in substantial shade.
- Trouble-free and easy to care for, Baneberry is a welcomed addition to beds, borders, woodlands, cottage gardens, and naturalized areas.
- Attracts birds and butterflies and deer ignore it!
- Cut back after flowering or fruiting. Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame in fall or by division in early spring
- Native to North America.
Requirements
| Hardiness |
3 - 8 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 9 |
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 17 |
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Plant Family | Ranunculaceae |
| Genus | Actaea |
| Exposure | Partial Sun, Shade |
| Season of Interest |
Summer (Late) Fall |
| Height |
4' - 6' (120cm - 180cm) |
| Spread |
2' - 4' (60cm - 120cm) |
| Spacing | 48" (120cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained |
| Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy |
| Native Plants | Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Midwest, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Northeast, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Southeast, Tennessee, United States, Virginia, West Virginia |
| Tolerance | Full Shade, Deer, Rabbit |
| Attracts | Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Bees |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage |
Alternative Plants to Consider
Recommended Companion Plants
Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens
oroch3 / 123RF Stock Photo
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
| Hardiness |
3 - 8 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 9 |
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 17 |
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Plant Family | Ranunculaceae |
| Genus | Actaea |
| Exposure | Partial Sun, Shade |
| Season of Interest |
Summer (Late) Fall |
| Height |
4' - 6' (120cm - 180cm) |
| Spread |
2' - 4' (60cm - 120cm) |
| Spacing | 48" (120cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained |
| Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy |
| Native Plants | Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Midwest, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Northeast, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Southeast, Tennessee, United States, Virginia, West Virginia |
| Tolerance | Full Shade, Deer, Rabbit |
| Attracts | Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Bees |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage |
