Plant types and subtypes: Perennials
Light Requirements: part-shade, shade
Water Use: medium
Soil Moisture: moist
Soil Description: acid, neutral, rich, loam
Height: 1'-4'
Bloom Time: April, May
Bloom Color: yellow, green, brown
Leaf Color: green, blue-green
Hardiness Zone: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Additional Tags: berries, colonizing, deer resistant, fall interest, ornamental foliage, poisonous, shade garden plant, showy fruit, woodland plant

Pricing & Availability
Description
Caulophyllum thalictroides
Also known as:blue cohosh
,caulophylle faux-pigamon
,papoose-root
,squaw-root
Description
Caulophyllum thalictroides is a multi-branched woodland perennial with a bushy habit whose height will vary depending on environmental conditions from 1 to 4'. It's compound, lobed foliage is exceptional, and reminiscent of meadow rues (Thalictrum spp), hence the specific epithet thalictroides which means Thalictrum-like. The leaves are purple when they emerge, turning smokey-blue as they mature, and ultimately shades of yellow in fall before the plant goes dormant. Although the flowers are intricate and interesting, their yellowish-green color and small size, renders them rather inconspicuous. The berries, however, are very showy. Emerging green, they mature to form clusters of purple grape-like fruit that will persist well through winter and provide visual interest when there is little else around.
Cultivation
Blue cohosh grows in neutral to slightly acidic soil, rich in organic matter. It will prefer a shady spot where it will not be allowed to dry out in summer. It is best used in groupings where it will slowly colonize by means of rhizomes. To highlight its foliage and provide textural contrast, it can be combined effectively with ferns or sedges. It has a short bloom time in April or May. Zones 3-8
Propagation
Can be propagated by division, but with care because this species does not like to be disturbed. Propagation from seed is slow, as seedlings may take up to 4 years to produce flowers.
Additional Notes
The berries are unpalatable to wildlife until they have undergone several freeze-thaw cycles, and therefore persist well into winter, providing food when little else is available.
Native Range & Classification
Recorded County Distribution: USDA data
Native Range:
AL, AR, CT, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV
USDA Endangered Status:
- Threatened: RI
Classification
Kingdom | Plantae | Plants | |
Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants | |
Superdivision | Spermatophyta | Seed plants | |
Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants | |
Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons | |
Subclass | Magnoliidae | ||
Order | Ranunculales | ||
Family | Berberidaceae | Barberry family | |
Genus | Caulophyllum | cohosh | |
Species | Caulophyllum thalictroides | blue cohosh |