Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa)
[ak-TAY-ah rass-ih-MOE-sah]

Deciduous Perennial Upright in the Ranunculaceae Family

Black Cohosh is a tall native woodland perennial, prized for its dramatic bottlebrush-like spikes of small white flowers that can reach up to two feet long and rise well above the deeply divided, toothed foliage. Despite its beauty, the flowers carry a distinctly unpleasant odor up close — the trait behind the genus's old name, Cimicifuga ('bug-repelling'). Found naturally in rich, moist woods across the Eastern U.S., it prefers partial to full shade and consistently moist, humus-rich soil, and is slow to establish, often taking several years to reach blooming size.

Pros

  • Dramatic 1-2 ft white flower spikes add late-summer and fall height to shade gardens
  • Deer resistant and low-maintenance once established
  • Host plant for Spring Azure and other azure butterflies
  • Long bloom season into fall

Cons

  • Flowers have a distinctly unpleasant odor up close
  • Slow to establish — can take several years to reach blooming size
  • Berries and roots toxic to people and rabbits
Why Like A dramatic late-season native bloomer that extends the woodland garden's flowering into fall, when little else in the shade is in bloom. Its flowers are a larval host for the Spring Azure, Holly Blue, and Appalachian Azure butterflies, and the plant has a long history of use in traditional and herbal medicine. Its unusual, faintly unpleasant floral scent is thought to deter insect pests — the source of the plant's old genus name, Cimicifuga.
Highlights One of the tallest, most dramatic native woodland bloomers, with striking white flower spires that bloom later than most shade perennials, and a host plant for azure butterfly larvae.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 4 - 6 feet tall. 24 - 48 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Shade
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet: Foliage scorches and growth slows if allowed to dry out; prefers consistently moist conditions.
Zones 3a - 8b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Fall interest, Full Shade, Illinois Native, Medium, Native to North America, Partial Shade, Perennial, Potentially Toxic, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Wet, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period July to October
Flower Color White
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Ferns, hostas, wild ginger, and Solomon's seal
Want More photos of this plant? Try Google Image Search!
 


Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 06/08 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 05/04 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!