NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details
Actaea racemosa [= Cimicifuga racemosa]
Common Black Cohosh, Early Black Cohosh
Scientific Name: |
Actaea racemosa [= Cimicifuga racemosa] |
|---|---|
Genus: |
Actaea |
Species Epithet: |
racemosa |
Common Name: |
Common Black Cohosh, Early Black Cohosh |
Plant Type |
Herb/Wildflower |
Life Cycle |
Perennial |
Plant Family |
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family) |
Native/Alien: |
NC Native |
Size: |
1-3 ft., 3-6 ft., 6-12 ft. |
Bloom Color(s): |
White |
Light: |
Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day, Less than 2 hours of sun per day |
Soil Moisture: |
Moist |
Bloom Time: |
May, June, July |
Growing Area: |
Mountains, Piedmont, Sandhills, Coastal Plain |
Habitat Description: |
Rich cove forests, other mesic and moderately to very fertile forests. May-Aug. Primarily Appalachian: w. MA south to SC and c. GA, but extending e. into the Coastal Plain and west to OH, IN, and MO. Common in NC Mountains and Piedmont, rare in Coastal Plain. |
Leaf Arrangement: |
Alternate |
Leaf Retention: |
Deciduous |
Leaf Type: |
Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like |
Leaf Form: |
Compound |
Life Cycle: |
Perennial |
Wildlife Value: |
Important for Wildlife |
Landscape Value: |
Recommended and Available |
State Rank: |
S4: Apparently secure (*Key) |
Global Rank: |
G4 - Apparently Secure (*Key) |
State Status: |
Exploited (*Key) |
Notes: |
Attracts butterflies, Host for Spring Azure. |
|
New Shoots
Tom Harville |
|
|
Plant
Tom Harville |
|
|
Buds The buds open from the bottom up over a week or two
Tom Harville |
|
|
Blooms with Turkscap Lilies
Martha Baskin |
|
|
Blooms with Turkscaps and Friend Note the blooms opening
Martha Baskin |
|
|
The white flowers have no petals but consist of tight clusters of many white stamens surrounding a white stigma. NC mountains
Bettina Darveaux |
|
|
Large compound leaves, 2- to 3-times divided. Leaflets are very serrated. Orange County, NC
Bettina Darveaux |
|
|
A very tall herbaceous species which can grow to heights of 6 or more feet. Seven Mile Creek Natural Area, Orange Co., NC
Bettina Darveaux |
|
|
The narrow racemes of white flowers can reach amazing heights. Blue Ridge Parkway, Haywood Co., NC
Bettina Darveaux |
|
|
Blue Ridge Parkway, Haywood Co., NC
Bettina Darveaux |
|
Links: |
|
![The Scientific Name is Actaea racemosa [= Cimicifuga racemosa]. You will likely hear them called Common Black Cohosh, Early Black Cohosh. This picture shows the The white flowers have no petals but consist of tight clusters of many white stamens surrounding a white stigma. of Actaea racemosa [= Cimicifuga racemosa]](https://ncwildflower.org/images/plants/IMG_2983r.jpg "The white flowers have no petals but consist of tight clusters of many white stamens surrounding a white stigma. of Actaea racemosa [= Cimicifuga racemosa]")
![The Scientific Name is Actaea racemosa [= Cimicifuga racemosa]. You will likely hear them called Common Black Cohosh, Early Black Cohosh. This picture shows the Large compound leaves, 2- to 3-times divided. Leaflets are very serrated. of Actaea racemosa [= Cimicifuga racemosa]](https://ncwildflower.org/images/plants/IMG_2766_BD.jpeg "Large compound leaves, 2- to 3-times divided. Leaflets are very serrated. of Actaea racemosa [= Cimicifuga racemosa]")
![The Scientific Name is Actaea racemosa [= Cimicifuga racemosa]. You will likely hear them called Common Black Cohosh, Early Black Cohosh. This picture shows the A very tall herbaceous species which can grow to heights of 6 or more feet. of Actaea racemosa [= Cimicifuga racemosa]](https://ncwildflower.org/images/plants/Actaea_racemosa_IMG_4698_BD.jpeg "A very tall herbaceous species which can grow to heights of 6 or more feet. of Actaea racemosa [= Cimicifuga racemosa]")
![The Scientific Name is Actaea racemosa [= Cimicifuga racemosa]. You will likely hear them called Common Black Cohosh, Early Black Cohosh. This picture shows the The narrow racemes of white flowers can reach amazing heights. of Actaea racemosa [= Cimicifuga racemosa]](https://ncwildflower.org/images/plants/Actaea_racemosa_IMG_5524_BD.jpeg "The narrow racemes of white flowers can reach amazing heights. of Actaea racemosa [= Cimicifuga racemosa]")
![The Scientific Name is Actaea racemosa [= Cimicifuga racemosa]. You will likely hear them called Common Black Cohosh, Early Black Cohosh. This picture shows the of Actaea racemosa [= Cimicifuga racemosa]](https://ncwildflower.org/images/plants/Actaea_racemosa_IMG_5530_BD.jpeg "of Actaea racemosa [= Cimicifuga racemosa]")
back to top
go to plant details search
go to plant images search
go to gallery home
back to Initial a Gallery
back to orchids
back to Carnivorous Plants
back to Trilliums
