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  1. Home
  2. Summer bulbs & plants
  3. Actaea racemosa

Actaea racemosa

"Black cohosh"

Actaea racemosa

1 bare root — £4.95

Spring planting season is currently closed 
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Delivery schedule

Orders placed until 29 February 2025
You can expect your order in February/March 2025

Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
You can expect your order in March/April 2025

Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
You can expect your order within 10 business days

Available for (pre)ordering again in December
Free delivery on UK orders over £50
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Shipping to the UK

UK orders over £50
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UK orders under £50
£4.99

Northern Ireland orders under £50
£5.99

More info

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— Ship carbon neutral;
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— Invest in reforestation;
— Invest in soil carbon storage.

How? Every time we ship an order, Shopify Planet automatically calculates our shipping emissions, and ensures high-quality carbon removal to neutralise our shipping footprint. Learn more

Description

Actaea racemosa, a species originally discovered growing at woodland edges in North America, is commonly called Black Cohosh. In many ways it is the perfect garden plant. To start, it is not just a woodland plant—it likes a sunny spot almost as much as it does part-shade. And it’s great at the back of a border, where its height (105-180cm) will enable it to be seen clearly. Actaea racemosa produces clusters of small, highly visible white flowers, carried well above the bright green leaves. These flowers are followed later in the season by interesting dry, brown seed heads.

Actaea racemosa is considered such a good plant, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) have awarded it a coveted Award of Garden Merit. Incidentally, another common name for this plant is snakeroot, because indigenous North American peoples once used it in the treatment of snake-bite. We thought you would like to know, just in case!

NOTE: Most Actaeas are harmful if eaten, and can trigger skin irritations.

Key features

  • Comes back every year

  • Fragrant

  • Attractive to wildlife

  • Loved by pollinators

  • Great for shade

  • In peat-free compost

  • Low maintenance

  • RHS Award (AGM)

  • Fully hardy

Specs & details

  • Botanical name

    Actaea racemosa

  • Flower colour

    White

  • Plant size

    1

  • Established height

    1.2-1.5m

  • Established spread

    30-50cm

  • Plant spacing

    5 plants per m2

  • Leaf colour

    Green

  • Habit

    Upright
    Clump-forming

  • Life cycle

    Perennial

  • Hardiness

    Fully hardy

  • Years to establish

    2-3 years

  • Sunlight

    Partial shade
    Dappled shade
    Full shade

  • Position

    Sheltered

  • Suitable for

    Borders
    Wildlife gardens
    Low maintenance gardens

  • Soil acidity

    Any

  • Soil moisture

    Damp

  • Soil type

    Loam
    Clay
    Loam-based compost

  • RHS Award (AGM)

    Yes

  • Growing skill

    Easy to grow

  • Scented

    Yes

  • Pollinator-friendly

    Yes

  • Mouse resistant

    No

  • Rabbit resistant

    Yes

  • Deer resistant

    Yes

  • Toxicity

    No report

  • Squirrel resistant

    No

Plant calendar

JanFebMarAprMayJuneJulyAugSepOctNovDec
  • Planting
  • Flowering

Useful information

    • Soak the Actaea racemosa roots in water for 3-6 hours prior to planting

    • Plant your "Black cohosh" bare roots into temporary pots with a multipurpose compost in spring and grow-on in a sheltered spot outdoors

    • Choose a pot which comfortably fits the bare roots. Some have a noticeable crown which should be just below the soil surface with any top growth exposed. Some varieties are a length of root which should be planted lengthways and shallowly (1-2cm deep).

    • Plant out into borders or permanent containers in late spring or early summer once in full growth. Choose a position in sun or shade depending on the variety.

    Read all planting & care instructions

  • Orders placed until 29 February 2025
    You can expect your order in February/March 2025

    Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
    You can expect your order in March/April 2025

    Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
    You can expect your order within 10 business days

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Perennials in 1 minute

The beauty of perennial plants doesn’t just lie in their long-lasting flowers and sturdy, resilient nature, but it’s their sheer determination to keep on coming back stronger every year —in year one they’re good, but in future years they’re even better!
View all bare-root perennials

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