Pollinator plant

black cohosh

Cimicifuga racemosa

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Common names

21 names · 11 languages
EnglishYour language
+3 more namesShow fewer names
  • Bugbane[1]
  • Common Black Cohosh[1]
  • Fairy Candles[1]
Other languages (10)
Dutch
  • Zilverkaars
French
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 总花黑升麻[3]
  • 黑升麻[3]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 總花黑升麻[3]
  • 黑升麻[3]
Czech
  • ploštičník hroznatý[3]
Finnish
  • tähkäkimikki[3]
German
  • Juli-Silberkerze[4]
  • Park-Wanzenkraut[4]
  • Trauben-Silberkerze[2][3]
Russian
  • Клопогон кистевидный[3]
Slovak
  • ploštičník strapcovitý[3]
Swedish
  • läkesilverax[3]
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Actaea racemosa — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Black Cohosh — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Actaea racemosa.
  • Black Snakeroot — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Actaea racemosa.
  • Bugbane — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Actaea racemosa.
  • Common Black Cohosh — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Actaea racemosa.
  • Fairy Candles — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(5); heading: Common Name(s):; Actaea racemosa.
[2] Actaea racemosa — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • black cohosh — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 119813; Actaea racemosa.
  • Trauben-Silberkerze — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 119813; Actaea racemosa.
  • Black Bugbane — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 119813; Actaea racemosa.
  • actée à grappes — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 119813; Actaea racemosa.
  • cimicaire à grappes — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 119813; Actaea racemosa.
[3] Actaea racemosa — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • black cohosh — results[16].names[1]; taxon id 119813; Actaea racemosa.
  • Trauben-Silberkerze — results[16].names[13]; taxon id 119813; Actaea racemosa.
  • Black Bugbane — results[16].names[2]; taxon id 119813; Actaea racemosa.
  • actée à grappes — results[16].names[3]; taxon id 119813; Actaea racemosa.
  • cimicaire à grappes — results[16].names[4]; taxon id 119813; Actaea racemosa.
  • tähkäkimikki — results[16].names[5]; taxon id 119813; Actaea racemosa.
  • ploštičník hroznatý — results[16].names[6]; taxon id 119813; Actaea racemosa.
  • läkesilverax — results[16].names[7]; taxon id 119813; Actaea racemosa.
  • 總花黑升麻 — results[16].names[8]; taxon id 119813; Actaea racemosa.
  • 总花黑升麻 — results[16].names[9]; taxon id 119813; Actaea racemosa.
  • 黑升麻 — results[16].names[10]; taxon id 119813; Actaea racemosa.
  • 黑升麻 — results[16].names[11]; taxon id 119813; Actaea racemosa.
  • Клопогон кистевидный — results[16].names[12]; taxon id 119813; Actaea racemosa.
  • ploštičník strapcovitý — results[16].names[14]; taxon id 119813; Actaea racemosa.
[4] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Actaea racemosa ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Juli-Silberkerze — VernacularName.tsv, line 166988; taxon 9S4V.
  • Park-Wanzenkraut (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 166989; taxon 9S4V.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Catalogue of Life treats Cimicifuga racemosa as a synonym of Actaea racemosa.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family
Ranunculaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [2]
Mature height
1.22–2.13 m

NC State Extension profile, published as Actaea racemosa; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [3]
Mature spread
0.61–1.22 m

NC State Extension profile, published as Actaea racemosa; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [3]
Plant habit
Erect

NC State Extension profile, published as Actaea racemosa; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile, published as Actaea racemosa; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile, published as Actaea racemosa; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile, published as Actaea racemosa; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day); Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile, published as Actaea racemosa; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile, published as Actaea racemosa; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Soil texture
High Organic Matter

NC State Extension profile, published as Actaea racemosa; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile, published as Actaea racemosa; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [3]
Flowering season
Summer

NC State Extension profile, published as Actaea racemosa; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [3]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: butterflies, hummingbirds, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile, published as Actaea racemosa; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [3]
Native range
SE. Canada to NC. & E. U.S.A.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Unknown
Pollen value Medium
Plant profile

About this plant

black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from July to September.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Cimicifuga racemosa — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 5265586; ID VCHX; rank species; status synonym

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Actaea racemosa — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 3947117; ID 9S4V; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 3947117; ID 9S4V; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  3. NC State Extension Actaea racemosa — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Actaea racemosa — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 666703, 666705; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1136574, 1136575, 1136576, 1136577, 1136578, 1136579, 1136580, 1136581, 1136582, 1136583, 1136584, 1136585, 1136586, 1136587, 1136588, 1136589, 1136590, 1136591, 1136592, 1136593, 1136594, 1136595

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.