This plant loves to grow in shady wooded areas in eastern North America. When you can identify it, leave a comment with its scientific and common names. And share any personal connection you may have with this plant.
Emerging plant in spring
Stem
Leaves
Inflorescence
Flower beginning to open
Flowers
ANSWER (subsequently added to this post to facilitate the “search” function for these images): Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa)
Also, read the blog post and watch the plant portrait video for Black cohosh (Actaea racemosta).
Astilbe biternata?
Looks like Goatsbeard
Actea? Doll’s Eye?
Actually looks closer to Black Cohosh
Black Cohosh
Actaea racemosa – Black Cohosh
Actaea racemosa (black cohosh, black bugbane, black snakeroot, fairy candle; syn. Cimicifuga racemosa) is a species of flowering plant of the Ranunculaceae family.
Oh how I love this plant! I first met it when I lived in the Appalachian mountains, and the signature of the Cohosh’s entangled roots greatly played a role in my life at that time. It is a wonderful plant to get to know.
Likes like Aruncus dioicus
Goatsbeard
Oh my goodness! I grew up with this plant and always called it stinkbush! I had no idea it was one of the medicines that I’ve been reading about. My parents got it from a friend who was trying to get more native plants growing in southern ontario, I was under the impression that it’s rare or endangered.
Actaea racemosa. Black cohosh.
Yes, this is Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa). The plant has become rare in some areas due to over-harvesting for its medicinal properties. I was thrilled to find it thriving on land near me in western North Carolina.