Actaea racemosa Linnaeus. Section: Actaea. Common name: Common Black-cohosh, Early Black-cohosh. Phenology: May-Aug. Habitat: Rich cove forests, other mesic and moderately to very fertile forests. Distribution: Primarily Appalachian: w. MA south to SC and c. GA, but extending e. into the Coastal Plain and west to OH, IN, MO, and AR.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: Var. dissecta appears to be a sporadically occurring form, apparently always occurring in small numbers associated with typical material; McCoy (2004) reported its collection in NC.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Can, K4, Mi, Mo3, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, Va; = Cimicifuga racemosa (L.) Nutt. — C, F, FNA3, Il, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, W; > Actaea racemosa L. var. dissecta (A.Gray) J.Compton — Compton, Culham, & Jury (1998); > Actaea racemosa L. var. racemosa — Compton, Culham, & Jury (1998); < Cimicifuga racemosa (L.) Nutt. — G, (also see C. rubifolia); >< Cimicifuga racemosa (L.) Nutt. var. cordifolia (Pursh) Gray — F, misapplied in part; > Cimicifuga racemosa (L.) Nutt. var. racemosa — F. Basionym: Actaea racemosa L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Cimicifuga racemosa - FNA3
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Heliophily ⓘ: 3
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© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷
© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect, rhizomatous perennial found in clearings in rich woods, usually on base-rich soils.
Stems: Stems simple, smooth.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, large and horizontal, 2-3 times ternately divided into 20-70 sharply pointed and coarsely toothed leaflets.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in a tapering, erect spike, to 1 ft. long, on a tall, leafless, sometimes branched stalk held above foliage; white, to 1/2 in. wide, with 5 sepals that drop early, numerous bushy white stamens and a single style; flowers open in succession upward, so raceme remains in bloom for 2 weeks or more.
Fruits: Fruit an oval, firm-walled follicle.
Comments: Flowers attract pollinators with a sour, musky smell.
Height: 3-8 ft.
plant sale text: Perfect for the back of a shade border or woodland garden, this native perennial develops overtime into a mound of dense, compound foliage accented by tall wand-like white blossoms in mid-to-late summer. The flowers attract pollinators with a sour, musky smell. Actaea racemosa blooms earlier than its cousins in the genus Actaea and prefers rich, humusy, moisture-retentive soil. Its leaves will scorch if the soil is allowed to dry out too much. This is an excellent pollen and nectar source for pollinators.
bloom table text:
description: Erect, rhizomatous perennial found in clearings in rich woods, usually on base-rich soils.
stems: Stems simple, smooth.
leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, large and horizontal, 2-3 times ternately divided into 20-70 sharply pointed and coarsely toothed leaflets.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in a tapering, erect spike, to 1 ft. long, on a tall, leafless, sometimes branched stalk held above foliage; white, to 1/2 in. wide, with 5 sepals that drop early, numerous bushy white stamens and a single style; flowers open in succession upward, so raceme remains in bloom for 2 weeks or more.
fruits: Fruit an oval, firm-walled follicle.
comments: Flowers attract pollinators with a sour, musky smell.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern North America
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