Flower profile

Black cohosh

Actaea racemosa

Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) is a flowering plant in the Ranunculaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–July across the U.S.

Native to Virginia

Black cohosh is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Virginia it's most often seen in bloom in June–July.

24states where USDA records it

1,745VA sightings*

9,238U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Virginia

Quick look

Actaea racemosa, the black cohosh, black bugbane, black snakeroot, rattle-top, or fairy candle, is a species of flowering plant of the family Ranunculaceae. It is native to eastern North America from the extreme south of Ontario to central Georgia, and west to Missouri and Arkansas. It grows in a variety of woodland habitats, and is often found in small woodland openings.
From Wikipedia's article Actaea racemosa, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 24 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Virginia. ^NatureServe
In Virginia, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,745 research-grade sightings of it in Virginia, ranking #98 among the 189 flowers on our Virginia list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Virginia, most flowering sightings come in June–July.

Flowering records by month in Virginia (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (451 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G4 Apparently secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Virginia: Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Virginia. ^2VAC5-320-10
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: IA (SH), IL (S2), MA (S1), MI (SH), MS (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. ^{NC State Extension}

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records black cohosh in 24 states plus Washington, D.C.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia; District of Columbia.

Virginia counties with USDA records: Albemarle, Alleghany, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Arlington, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Brunswick, Buchanan, Buckingham, Campbell, Caroline, Carroll, Charlotte, Chesterfield, Clarke, Craig, Culpeper, Cumberland, Dickenson, Essex, Fairfax, Fauquier, Floyd, Fluvanna, Franklin, Frederick, Giles, Goochland, Grayson, Greene, Halifax, Henrico, Henry, Highland, James City, King George, King and Queen, Lee, Loudoun, Louisa, Lunenburg, Madison, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Nelson, Nottoway, Orange, Page, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince William, Pulaski, Rappahannock, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Russell, Scott, Shenandoah, Smyth, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Suffolk , Surry, Sussex, Tazewell, Warren, Washington, Westmoreland, Wise, Wythe, York.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 539 counties across 22 states; the most are in Virginia (79), Pennsylvania (63), Kentucky (56).

Other Actaea on Bloomipedia (2): White baneberry, Red baneberry.

More from the Ranunculaceae family (48 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Lesser celandine, Rue anemone, Red columbine, Wood anemone, Western columbine, Marsh marigold, Round-lobed hepatica, Sharp-lobed hepatica.

More Virginia flowers

Lesser celandine

Ficaria verna

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in VA: March–April

Rue anemone

Thalictrum thalictroides

Native

🌼 Blooms in VA: March–May

Red columbine

Aquilegia canadensis

Native

🌼 Blooms in VA: April–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ACRA7.
iNaturalist, Actaea racemosa: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Actaea racemosa (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Virginia: Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10).
Virginia: Virginia noxious weeds (2VAC5-317-20, Tier 1, 2 and 3).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Actaea racemosa (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: Ryan Watson via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.