Flower profile
Black cohosh
Actaea racemosa
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–August.
*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.
- 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–August. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 1,745 research-grade sightings of it in Virginia, ranking #96 among the 110 flowers on our Virginia list. iNaturalist
Black cohosh gift ideas
Handmade black cohosh gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Black cohosh art print
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Black cohosh greeting card
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Black cohosh mug
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Black cohosh earrings
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Black cohosh embroidery pattern
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Black cohosh sticker
When does it bloom?
In Virginia, most flowering sightings come in June–August.
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?
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
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.
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.
More Virginia flowers
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.