blue cohosh
ExplorePlants
blue cohosh
Caulophyllum thalictroides
Blue cohosh is a special plant with beautiful blue-green leaves and tiny yellow flowers. It grows in shady forests and is known for its unique color and shape!
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The blue cohosh is a striking woodland plant with large, three-parted leaves that create a distinct, bushy appearance. Its small, greenish-yellow to brownish-purple flowers emerge in spring, followed by unique, bright blue, pea-sized berries that persist into fall.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRanunculalesFamilyBerberidaceaeGenusCaulophyllum
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
3/5 · Moderate
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Despite its name, its small flowers are actually yellowish-green, not blue!
It’s one of the first plants to poke through the leaf litter on the forest floor each spring.
The 'blue' in its name comes from its stunning, deep blue seeds, not its blooms.
This plant’s gnarled rootstock was traditionally used in many herbal remedies.
Special abilities
Ability
Underground Powerhouse
Blue cohosh has a thick rhizome that helps it store energy and spread underground, allowing it to survive harsh winters.
Ability
Berry Broadcast
Blue cohosh produces bright blue berries that attract birds, helping the plant disperse its seeds far and wide.
Ability
Nature's Repellent
Blue cohosh produces compounds that make its roots and seeds moderately toxic, helping deter hungry animals.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-90 cm
- Spread
- 20-40 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.5-1 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Moderate
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Common Eastern Bumblebee
Bombus impatiens
Visits the small flowers for nectar and pollen.
eats
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Consumes blue berries, helping disperse the plant's seeds.
pollinates
Striped Sweat Bee
Halictus ligatus
Feeds on nectar and pollen from the tiny blooms.
Traits
Aromatic
Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
Deciduous
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Spring Blooming
Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
Fruit Bearing
Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Endangered
Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
3/5 · Moderate
Do not touch or eat any wild plants without asking an adult first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is blue cohosh?
30-90 cm
How wide does blue cohosh spread?
20-40 cm
How big are the flowers on blue cohosh?
0.5-1 cm
When does blue cohosh bloom?
Spring
Is blue cohosh edible?
No
Is blue cohosh toxic?
Moderate
What is blue cohosh's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is blue cohosh pollinated?
Insect
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