Black Cohosh
ExplorePlants
Black Cohosh
actaea racemosa
Black Cohosh is a tall, beautiful plant with striking white flowers that look like fluffy clouds! It grows in shady forests and can be a fun discovery for nature explorers.
Habitat: Black Cohosh primarily lives in rich, moist woodlands and shady areas of forests.
Appearance
The Black Cohosh has tall, dark green, deeply lobed leaves that form a bushy base. From mid-summer, it sends up slender, white, bottlebrush-like flower spikes that can reach over 6 feet tall, standing out in shaded woodlands.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRanunculalesFamilyRanunculaceaeGenusActaea
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Despite its name, its small fruits are actually dry and black, not berries!
Its super-tall flower stalks can reach over 6 feet, towering above you!
Some folks call it "fairy candles" because its white blooms glow in the forest.
The tiny white flowers open from round buds, looking like little pearls on a string.
Special abilities
Ability
Towering Lures
Black Cohosh has tall, slender flower spikes that rise above surrounding plants, helping it attract pollinators from a distance.
Ability
Shade Seeker
Black Cohosh can thrive in the dim light of dense forests, utilizing its large leaves to capture scarce sunlight for energy.
Ability
Underground Powerhouse
This plant has a robust rhizome system that stores nutrients and energy, allowing it to survive harsh conditions and regrow each year.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 90-180 cm
- Spread
- 45-90 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.5-1 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late summer to fall
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Honeybee
Apis mellifera
gathers nectar and pollen
pollinates
Common Eastern Bumblebee
Bombus impatiens
drinks nectar, collects pollen
pollinates
Drone Fly
Eristalis tenax
visits flowers for nectar
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
Black SnakerootBugbaneCimicifugaSnakeroot
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always ask an adult before touching plants in the wild.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Black Cohosh?
90-180 cm
How wide does Black Cohosh spread?
45-90 cm
How big are the flowers on Black Cohosh?
0.5-1 cm
When does Black Cohosh bloom?
Late summer to fall
Is Black Cohosh edible?
No
Is Black Cohosh toxic?
Mild
What is Black Cohosh's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Black Cohosh pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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