Alphabetical Plant Listing

Caulophyllum thalictroides (Blue Cohosh)

Blue Cohosh, Squaw-root, Papoose-root, Caulophylle Faux-Pigamon


Valued for its attractive foliage and ornamental blue berries, Caulophyllum thalictroides (Blue Cohosh) is an elegant, rhizomatous perennial with lacy, refined, blue-green leaves divided into three leaflets. The emerging stems and leaves boast purplish highlights. In mid to late spring, sprays of inconspicuous, green or yellow-brown, star-shaped flowers, 1/2 in. (1 cm), appear above the foliage. The petals bear fleshy nectar glands that are visited by early solitary bees. They are followed in summer by erect clusters of showy, bright blue, berry-like seeds. They persist and provide early fall interest even after the foliage has declined. Easy to grow, requiring minimum care, and long-lived, Blue Cohosh does best in shady woodland areas with humus-rich slightly acidic soil.

  • Rising up to 12-36 in. tall (30-90 cm) and 6-12 in. wide (15-30 cm). Will spread very slowly by rhizomes to form colonies.
  • Performs best in rich, consistently moist, neutral to slightly acidic, well-drained soils in part shade or full shade. A heavy winter coat of mixed leaves should be left on the plant in the spring
  • Virtually pest and disease free, Blue Cohosh is excellent for naturalizing in woodland gardens, and wild or native plant gardens.
  • Propagate by seed or divide the rootstock in autumn. Slow to establish from seed.
  • Berries, roots, and leaves of this plant may cause skin irritation if touched, and the raw berries may be poisonous to children if ingested.
  • Native to eastern and central North America.

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Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 8
Plant Type Perennials
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm)
Spread 6" – 1' (15cm – 30cm)
Spacing 12" (30cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma
Attracts Bees
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

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Doug MacGrady, USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab, Flickr

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
Plant Type Perennials
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm)
Spread 6" – 1' (15cm – 30cm)
Spacing 12" (30cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma
Attracts Bees
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

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