Black Cohosh Plant

Black Cohosh -Actaea racemosa

The Black Cohosh Plant is a beautiful perennial that will add an elegant touch of white to your garden. Bring structural interest and high drama to your garden with its delightful vertical flowers.

When planted in landscaping or the garden, the black cohosh perennial offers tall, elegantly separated flower spikes that attract pollinators like hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Its foliage adds lush texture to shady or woodland landscapes. It thrives in rich, moist soil and adds a touch of understated elegance when in bloom.

Plant Details of Black Cohosh Plants (Actaea racemosa)

Family: Ranunculaceae

Light Requirement: Shade

Water Needs: Moderate

Height: 4 – 6 ft.

Spread: 2 – 4 ft.

Growth Rate: Slow

Bloom Time: Summer

Flower Color: White

Wildlife Value: Attracts bees

Landscape Uses and Maintenance – Black Cohosh Plant

The Black Cohosh Plant (Actaea racemosa) is a native plant you will not regret planting in your garden. Related to buttercups, it fits into any woodland or pond-inspired garden and is great as an addition to the border or formal garden. Their white flowers on tall spikes are delicate and add a touch of whimsy to your garden. They appear to tower over the dark green leaves below.

The flowers are sweetly fragrant and pleasant to the nose, making them an interesting choice for a moon garden and a delight to walk by for both daytime and evening strolls. This plant will add much-needed height to your borders and can peek through other plants in your garden, creating layers.

Pollinator magnet! This plant blooms in the summertime and will attract butterflies and other pollinators, including hummingbirds, to your garden daily.  Bees love the flowers. Birds will be attracted to the seeds later in the season.

Summer surprises abound! While most summer-blooming plants want full sun, plant in the shade for the best success with this plant. It prefers the shade over full sun. You can pair this plant with ferns, European ginger, and Asters for an intriguing and visually contrasting display. This is a low-maintenance plant that doesn’t need regular watering. However, make sure to water if you notice the leaves beginning to yellow or get brown around the edges.

Noteworthy Characteristics of Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa)

The Black Cohosh Plant is the only host plant for the Appalachian Azure butterfly. It is also a host plant for other butterflies, including the Spring Azure and Holly Blue.

This Is How Your Plants Will Look upon Delivery

How to Grow and Care for Bare Root Perennials, Tubers, and Bulbs

Bare root perennials, tubers, and bulbs are an easy and economical way to jumpstart your garden with lasting beauty. These dormant plants should be planted in early spring or fall while the soil is cool and workable. Before planting, soak bare roots in water for 1–2 hours to rehydrate them. Choose a location based on the plant’s light needs—most flowering types prefer full sun, while others thrive in partial shade.

For bare root perennials, dig a shallow hole and spread the roots out naturally, ensuring the crown is level with the soil surface. For tubers and bulbs, plant with the pointed side facing up at a depth about two to three times their height. Cover with soil, gently press down, and water thoroughly.

Keep soil consistently moist (not soggy) until new growth appears. Add mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds, but avoid covering the crown or bulb tops. Once established, these plants require little maintenance—just seasonal watering, occasional dividing, and deadheading or pruning as needed. With proper care, they’ll return and thrive year after year.

Shipping date depends on the date displayed and chosen when you order from the product's page.

We only accept returns on plants verified dead. If you think your plants have died, we offer a 1 year warranty, please use use this File a Claim Link to verify dead plants and start with return warranty process.