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Actaea racemosa

Black Baneberry · Black Cohosh · Black Snakeroot

Family RanunculaceaeGenus Actaea

Tall arching stems carrying long wands of tight pale green buds not yet open, above divided leaves
FlowerNo machine-readable author provided. Valérie75 assumed (based on copyright claims).CC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous Perennial, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
4-7 ft1.2-2.1 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
2-4 ft0.6-1.2 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
3-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Dappled Sunlight; Deep shade; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic MatterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

  • Better known as black cohosh. It has also gone by black snakeroot, bugbane, bugwort, rattleroot and rattleweed. NCCIH: Black Cohosh
  • Native Americans used it for kidney complaints, malaria, sore throats and menstrual cramps. Herbal products are made from the root. NCCIH: Black Cohosh

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around August 20, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on August 19, 2026.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 49 days.

100% germination in 35–49 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Cimicifuga p. 118Public domain
Show the original text
Cimicifuga. (Ranunculaceae). C. racemosa germ. best with DS seed in 70- 40(100% in 5th w) for seed DS 6 m at 70, 70-40(90% in 5-8 w) for seed DS 6 m at 40, and 70-40(15%)-70-40(85% in 4th w) for fresh seed. An initial 3 m at 40 had little effect as shown by 40-70-40(100% in 5-7w) for fresh or DS seed. Radicle development is complete at 40, but the two cotyledons do not develop until the temperature shift to 70. Curiously all seed rotted in outdoor treatment, and most rolled in GA-3 treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Cimicifuga p. 118. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 5, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 4, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 9 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 35 days.

100% germination in 35 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Cimicifuga p. 118Public domain
Show the original text
Cimicifuga. (Ranunculaceae). C. racemosa germ. best with DS seed in 70- 40(100% in 5th w) for seed DS 6 m at 70, 70-40(90% in 5-8 w) for seed DS 6 m at 40, and 70-40(15%)-70-40(85% in 4th w) for fresh seed. An initial 3 m at 40 had little effect as shown by 40-70-40(100% in 5-7w) for fresh or DS seed. Radicle development is complete at 40, but the two cotyledons do not develop until the temperature shift to 70. Curiously all seed rotted in outdoor treatment, and most rolled in GA-3 treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Cimicifuga p. 118. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around May 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on May 14, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 9 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 56 days.

90% germination in 35–56 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Cimicifuga p. 118Public domain
Show the original text
Cimicifuga. (Ranunculaceae). C. racemosa germ. best with DS seed in 70- 40(100% in 5th w) for seed DS 6 m at 70, 70-40(90% in 5-8 w) for seed DS 6 m at 40, and 70-40(15%)-70-40(85% in 4th w) for fresh seed. An initial 3 m at 40 had little effect as shown by 40-70-40(100% in 5-7w) for fresh or DS seed. Radicle development is complete at 40, but the two cotyledons do not develop until the temperature shift to 70. Curiously all seed rotted in outdoor treatment, and most rolled in GA-3 treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Cimicifuga p. 118. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 12, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 11, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    15 germinated in this phase.

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 9 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4, in 28 days.

85% germination in 28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Cimicifuga p. 118Public domain
Show the original text
Cimicifuga. (Ranunculaceae). C. racemosa germ. best with DS seed in 70- 40(100% in 5th w) for seed DS 6 m at 70, 70-40(90% in 5-8 w) for seed DS 6 m at 40, and 70-40(15%)-70-40(85% in 4th w) for fresh seed. An initial 3 m at 40 had little effect as shown by 40-70-40(100% in 5-7w) for fresh or DS seed. Radicle development is complete at 40, but the two cotyledons do not develop until the temperature shift to 70. Curiously all seed rotted in outdoor treatment, and most rolled in GA-3 treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Cimicifuga p. 118. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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