Blue Cohosh Plant

Blue cohosh plant for sale here is Caulophyllum thalictroides, a native woodland perennial with lacy blue-green leaves and bright blue berries. We ship it bare-root in packs of 25, 50, 100 and 500, for shade gardens, native plantings, woodland restoration and wholesale buyers.

Blue Cohosh Size, Zones and Shade

Blue cohosh is a slim woodland clump, 1 to 2 feet tall and only 6 to 12 inches across. It's rated for zones 3 to 8 and is happy in anything from dappled light to deep shade. Give it moist, fertile, loamy ground rich in leaf mold, a bit on the acidic side, and it settles in.

Blue Cohosh Flowers, Leaves and Berries

Small greenish-yellow flowers open in spring before the leaves finish unfolding. The new foliage has a blue tint and a waxy bloom, then turns blue-green and stays lacy and divided. In summer the seeds ripen to bright blue with a fleshy coat, and they hold into fall.

Blue Cohosh and Wildlife

Insects visit the spring flowers, mice eat the berries and birds spread the seeds. Deer generally leave it alone. Our best ground cover plants for shade roundup has more shade plants to grow beside it.

Where to Plant Blue Cohosh

Woodland gardens, shaded borders and the ground under hardwoods are the right homes. Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart. Blue cohosh is slow, so plant it where it can stay and give the clump a few years before judging it.

Planting Blue Cohosh Bare-root

Soak the roots for about an hour. Plant so the crown sits just below the surface, firm the soil and water in well. Keep the bed evenly moist all first season and spread leaf mold or shredded leaves on top. For more on handling bare roots, read our guide to transplanting plants successfully.

Buying Blue Cohosh in Bulk

Planted 12 inches apart, a pack of 25 fits a 5 by 5 foot patch and 100 fill about 100 square feet. Plants spread slowly by rhizomes. Packs of 25, 50, 100 and 500 cover everything from a shady corner to a restoration site.

Good to Know About Blue Cohosh

The roots and berries are toxic if eaten, and the plant can irritate skin, so wear gloves and keep it away from kids and pets. Growth is slow and established clumps don't like being moved, so choose the spot carefully. Division after flowering is the easy way to make more.

Blue Cohosh in Woodland Plantings

The blue-green foliage is a cool contrast to the greens of ferns, and the berries add color when most shade plants have finished. Pair it with wild ginger, trillium and ferns in a native planting that looks good from spring to fall.

Blue Cohosh Plant Sizes, Packs and Shipping

Blue cohosh plants ship bare-root in packs of 25, 50, 100 and 500. Volume pricing available. Browse more wholesale perennials for sale.