Dear Gardeners,

I am thinking about what to do in my shady community garden plot this year and want to go with shade-loving plants rather than trying to force vegetables to grow there. I wanted to try Actaea racemosa (black snakeroot or black cohosh), and am wondering if anyone has had success with this plant and if there are recommendations for where to buy it. Also, would you recommend buying seedlings or starting from seed?

I've never tried them from seed, but have successfully grown them from starter plants. Bluestone Perennials is offering 3 varieties (they still list them as Cimicifuga racemosa).

http://www.bluestoneperennials...

LazyS'S is offering 3 varieties too:

http://www.lazyssfarm.com/inde...

I have all three of the Bluestone Cimifugas.
Racemosa is very tall and has behaved nicely as far as spreading.



Black Negligee does well in part shade It is more bushy and about 30 inches high



Hillside Black Beauty looks similar but is a bit taller. Part shade will keep all dark leaved plants from bleaching in the sun.

@Gemini_Sage: thanks for the tips- I took a look at both sites and definitely going to place an order. @Ge1836 - lovely pictures!

My plot is very shady (between two buildings and under a locust tree) so hopefully these will take.

Best of luck.

Follow up question for @ge1836 and @Gemini_Sage: how long did it take your plants to flower?

It's been several years since I grew them (in my previous garden in a wooded environment), but I think they bloomed the 2nd year.

My rasmosa was a large clump dug from a friends garden. It bloomed the year after planting because it was dug after bloom the first year.

Good to know - thanks!

Matt

I had them a few years ago, in pretty much full shade they tended to be on the green side rather then black.

Actraea racemosa black cohosh has green leaves. Maybe thats the variety you planted NJ Bob.
Actaea atropurpurea has dark purple

I have it......it has always been easy for me......can't remember where i got it, but did acquire as a plant, not seeds....I have read seed germination is highly variable, sporadic, sometimes taking more than a year.

I have 3 plants, the plain species....recently consolidated a couple of clumps--it looks much better grouped. Mine are planted in fairly heavy shade, and do well.

Hope that helps
Tim

Welcome to ATP Tim.

Tim!

Tim!!
Jo Ann, love that tall Racemosa.
I planted Black Beauty one year, it survived the first winter and then slowly died the next year. I am going to get some more of these for sure.

@Timnsemo glad to hear yours are flourishing. It really is a stunning plant and I'm looking forward to trying it out this year.

Welcome, Tim.

The first year I had it in too much sun but it did flower in August/September. I moved it to too much shade and it didn't flower at all. Maybe the third try will be the one that works.

I had trees cut down where my roseaea is. It will be full sun there from now on. Hope it adjusts.

It's well established now so just keep it well mulched and hope for the best.