Black Cohosh
Actaea racemosa
Photo by Pam Ford
Summary
If you’re looking for a dramatic vertical statement in a mid-summer woodland garden, look no further than black cohosh. The tall, slender wands of lacy white flowers are a standout against the deep green foliage, lighting up the forest understory when other woodland flowers have faded. Small wonder that a common name for black cohosh is ‘Fairy Candles’, an apt description for the way these charming flowers seem to glow in the dark. With its long clusters of racemes lasting for several weeks, mature plants are well suited to naturalizing large shady areas, and filling in the spaces after spring ephemerals have gone dormant. Native to moist deciduous woodlands in the eastern half of the U.S., it prefers rich soils, yet is fairly drought tolerant. At the SBG, you’ll find it in the Woodland Garden.
More Details
FAMILY
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup)
BLOOM TIME
June-July
FLOWER
White
MATURE SIZE
4-6 feet
LIGHT REQUIREMENT
Part sun to part shade
SOIL CONDITIONS
Grows best in rich, moist soils
NATIVE STATUS
PA Native
Ecosystem Connections
When in full bloom, each stalk of black cohosh can contain dozens of individual flowers, which are covered with a diverse array of small and large bees, beetles and flies. Many songbirds enjoy perching along the towering stems and taking shelter within the dense leaves.
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