Black Cohosh
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts
| Common name | Black cohosh |
| Scientific name | Actaea racemosa |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Ranunculales |
| Family | Ranunculaceae |
| Genus | Actaea |
| Type | Perennial herb in the buttercup family |
| Habitat | Rich woodland, up to about 4,000 ft |
| Native range | Eastern North America |
| Colours | Tall spikes of white flowers |
| Flowering season | Late spring to early summer |
| Height | Up to 4 ft; flower stems 75–250 cm |
| Special feature | Root and stem used in herbal remedies |
Black Cohosh, botanically called Actaea Racemosa, is a herbaceous perennial plant from the Ranunculaceae family. It is indigenous to North America. In the 19th century, it was used as a medicine and a home remedy in America. It is a flowering plant that can reach a height of up to about 2.5 m (8 feet) when in flower. It has white flowers and toothed leaves. The underground root and stem are mainly used for making medicines, tea, and solid extracts used in pills or tinctures.
History
Black Cohosh, formerly, Cimicifuga Racemosa (from the buttercup family) has been a flowering species used since ancient times for its medicinal values. Cohosh is a Native American word that means knobby rough roots. More than two centuries ago, American natives discovered that the root of the Black Cohosh plant used the root for women’s health complaints. In 19thcentury, North American natives used this herb as a home remedy for problems like rheumatism and womens health issues. They introduced it to the Europeans, and in the mid 1950s, Black Cohosh became a popular treatment for womens health problems in Europe..
Anatomy
Actaea Racemosa, is a flowering perennial plant. It is a smooth (glabrous) herbaceous shrub that has large, compound leaves. These leaves grow about 25-60 cm long from the underlying rhizome. It also has basal leaves that grow about 1m long and wide. These leaves have a serrated margin and grow into a group of 3 leaflets, that are tripinnately compound. The flowers are white in color and bloom in early summer and late spring. It blooms on a tall stem of about 75 to 250 cm and forms racemes that are about 50 cm long. These flowers have no sepals or petals, but have a thick cluster of long stamens that counts to about 55 to 110.These stamen grow about 5 to 10 mm long and it surrounds a white colored stigma.
Habitat
Actaea Racemosa, also called Black Snakeroot, Black Bugbane and Fairy Candle, is seen in North America. It starts from south Ontario to central Georgia. Then it expands to the west part of Arkansas and Missouri. It is usually found in rich woodland places or woodland habitats. It can also be seen in places with an elevation of 4000 ft like in North Carolina.
Soil
Black Chosh prefers well drained soil. It will thrive on sandy, loamy soil, but it will not grow in saturated soil.
Planting
If planning to cultivate by using rhizome, then rhizome should be cut and divided into many sections. Each section should be 2 to 3 inches long and have one or two buds attached to it. The rhizome can have up to 14 or 15 buds. There are fibrous roots attached to the rhizome pieces which are supposed to remain connected. Place the pieces of rhizome in a 3 to 6 feet wide bed in such a way that the rhizome is covered under soil up to 2 inches deep. Arrange the plantings about 18 to 24 inches away from one another and care should be taken to keep the bud pointing upright while you plant the rhizomes.
Watering
It needs regular watering.
Temperature
It is a hardy plant; hence it is freeze tolerant.
Care
Black Cohosh is believed to treat the problems related to menopause. Some women use it as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy, though evidence is limited. It may help to reduce high cholesterol level or diseases of arteries, but no clinical studies have supported these claims. Now-a-days it is available in the market in the form of a dietary supplement that people take for premenstrual tension and other women’s health problems.
Pests
Usually it is not much harmed by pests, but some like tarnished plant bugs can harm this plant.
Diseases
Diseases like leaf spots and rust can harm this plant.
Black cohosh FAQs
Where does black cohosh grow?
Black cohosh is native to eastern North America, from southern Ontario to central Georgia and west to Arkansas and Missouri. It grows in rich woodlands.
What does black cohosh look like?
It is a perennial herb with large, toothed leaves and tall stems carrying spikes of white flowers. The flowers have lots of long stamens but no petals.
When does black cohosh flower?
Black cohosh blooms in late spring and early summer, on a tall stem that can be up to 2.5 metres high.
What other names does black cohosh have?
It is also called black snakeroot, black bugbane and fairy candle. Its old botanical name was Cimicifuga racemosa.
What part of black cohosh is used as medicine?
The underground root and stem are used to make teas, tinctures and pills. The article says no clinical studies back up many of its health claims, so ask a doctor before using it.
Randi Jones is the owner and founder of the Nature Gift Store, an online retailer specializing in nature-themed gifts, educational science projects, live animal nature kits and real butterfly artwork. A biology graduate who fell in love with insects, she founded the company in 2001 to make active learning about nature fun, accessible and engaging for children and adults. Her store offers real butterfly frames, home and garden decor and educational live animal kits, including ant farms, worm farms, tadpoles, ladybugs and hermit crabs, and she runs a bug museum in Washington featuring live animals like Eddie the Iguana alongside other reptiles and insects.
