species 435 observations

Mountain Black Cohosh

Actaea podocarpa

Field notes

Actaea podocarpa, the mountain bugbane or mountain black-cohosh, is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family. It is native to the eastern United States, where it is found in the Appalachian Mountains, with a disjunct population in Illinois. It is found in rich, mesic forests often in boulder-strewn coves.

Actaea podocarpa is a large perennial herb. It is one of the later flowering of the eastern Actaea, producing white flowers in summer through fall.

Both it and Actaea rubifolia bear resemblance to black cohosh, which, due to its vasodilation properties, is valuable for the treatment of menopause symptoms; harvesters of black cohosh sometimes mistake A. podocarpa for black cohosh, accidentally harvesting it.

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Supports All

3 native animals
supported in the US

Range

United States

Greener is more native, amber more introduced; paler is less certain. How this was decided

Key traits

Water use
Medium
Deer resistant
Yes
Resists
Rabbits

From NC State Extension, USDA PLANTS and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.