Cimicifuga racemosa

Description

C. racemosa is a tall, stately plant for the shade garden, with long racemes of white flowers which may arch under their weight at some point. The common name, Black Cohosh is not to be mistaken with the Blue cohosh – Caulophyllum. The Astilbe-like foliage is also very handsome and the flowers are fragrant (despite the name bugbane which refers to the smell of the whole plant).

The root of the plant has had numerous herbal medicinal uses over time and has been long utilized as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy, resulting in a high demand for the species (which like in many other cases lead to various preparation including ‘substitutes’ of the true species: buyer beware!). This is a slow to germinate/grow and establish species.

Beautiful as a solitary specimen or in groups. It was slow to establish but worth the wait. Prefers a rather moist location, especially when exposed to more sunlight.

Germination: seeds are best sown outdoors in the fall right away after they mature. When sown too late, they will germinate in the second spring after sowing; they need a short slightly warm/moist stratification period followed by 3 months of cold/moist stratification.