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Black Cohosh growing in a garden
Perennial flower

Black Cohosh plant profile

Actaea racemosa

A perennial flower for shade.

Last updated .

When to plant

When to plant Black Cohosh

Black cohosh sends up tall white flower spikes from late spring into summer (NC State: May to August) above ferny foliage. Plant or divide in spring or fall in moist, humus-rich shade; it is slow to establish.

The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.

Open Black Cohosh in my garden calendar

Shows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.

Growing conditions

Sun
Shade
Soil pH
6 to 8
Lifecycle
Perennial
Hardiness
Zones 3a to 8bFind my hardiness zone

Next steps

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Evidence trail

Evidence behind this profile

Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.

  1. Actaea racemosa (Black Cohosh, Bugbane)

    North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (NC State Extension). Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.