Cimicifuga racemosa ‘Bugbane’ or ‘Cohosh’
A plant that straddles the area between a herb and a garden plant is Cimicifuga racemosa also known as bugbane.
It is the root that is used in many homeopathic remedies, the plant is also grow for its foliage and flowers. The rhizomes are the part traditionally used in North America. The Chinese use a different species known as Seng Ma and this is Cimicifuga heraceifolia.
Here we are looking at the garden varieties and their landscaping uses, in particular C. racemosa.
These are a late flowering perennial, and Cimicifuga racemosa or Black Cohosh is one of the most widely used and can be grown from seeds. White flowers in spring rising as spires above the attractive green foliage. Reaching around .5m in height this is a useful plant for the cottage garden.
Cimicifuga racemosa Care
Cimicifuga prefer a humus rich well drained soil (but moist) and require some protection from the late afternoon sun. The flowers of Cimicifuga rise on spike and are a little reminiscent of bottlebrush flowers, they make a dramatic statement in the shaded border.
- Position – Part shade
- Soil – Humus rich moist. will grow well in damp to wet soils.
- Height – To 2 meteres plus.
- Width – Will form a clump to 1m
- Flowering time – Mid summer to autumn.
- Flower colour – White, spikes rising above the foliage.
- Foliage – Deep green.
Cimicifuga racemosa is available for sale from the following Nurseries
PO Box 7040 Leura NSW 2780
Rare woodland plants, Trilliums Epimediums, Arisaemas, plus much more.www.lynnsrareplants.com.au