Caulophylum thalictroides - BLUE COHOSH

Interesting native woodland perennial with showy blue berries in the fall. The ornamental leaves are bluish or blue-green; the flowers are an indistinct yellow-green. The blue cohosh becomes most showy toward the end of the season. It establishes slowly if grown from seed, spreading gradually by short rhizomes and taking 4 years to flower. The best method is to plant it and leave it undisturbed. The berries are poisonous and shouldn’t be eaten by humans.

Great plant for woodland garden or shaded beds. Combine with Aquilegia canadensis, Arisaema, Asarum, Heuchera, Mertensia virginica, Polemonium reptans, Polygonatum, Smilacina, woodland asters (Aster divaricata), native ferns or sedges (Carex) or non-native Hosta, Epimedium or Hakonechloa. 

Pictures copyright: H. Zell / Wikipedia Commons

Blooming Time: April-June
Size: 1-2’ high x 0.5-1’ wide
USDA Zones: 3 to 7
Culture: half shade, shade, rich soil with decaying organic material and leaves; soil shouldn’t dry out
Moisture Needs: medium to medium-moist
Origin: native woodland wildflower in Eastern and central North America, originally found in shady woodland areas in rich, moist, neutral to slightly acidic soils.
Deer/Rabbit Resistant: yes/yes
Attracts Butterflies or Pollinators: insects feed on pollen and nectar – bees, wasps, bumblebees, and White-Footed and Woodland Deer mice eat the seeds. Caterpillars of the Black-Patched Clepsis moth feed on the foliage.
Attracts Hummingbirds: no, but woodland birds yes
Pot Size: 3.5" x 4" perennial pot (1.22 pt/580 ml)