Black Cohosh

Actaea racemosa

Black Cohosh, also known as Actaea racemosa or Cimicifuga racemosa, is a perennial plant that is native to North America. It's known for its tall, white flower spikes and its use in traditional medicine.

This plant typically grows to a height of 4-6 feet with a similar spread. It prefers part shade to full shade and thrives best in moist, well-drained soils. Black Cohosh is a great choice for woodland gardens, shaded borders, or other areas of the landscape that receive less sunlight.

The flowers of Black Cohosh are small, white, and appear on tall spikes above the foliage in the summer. The leaves are compound and have a deep green color.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS:   Low maintenance.  No serious pest or disease issues but watch for rust and leaf spot.  Leaf margins may scorch if soils not kept consistently moist.

LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Naturalized Areas, Native Gardens, Wildlife Gardens, and Containers.

COMPANION PLANTS:  Joe-Pye Weed, Fern, Leopard Plant

IMAGES:   Salicyna, Actaea racemosa 2015-07-15 4399, CC BY-SA 4.0, (2)  H. Zell,  Actaea racemosa 005,  CC BY-SA 3.0, (3)  Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz,  Actaea racemosa kz01,  CC BY-SA 4.0, (4)  H. Zell,  Actaea racemosa 004,  CC BY-SA 3.0

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.