Cimicifuga racemosa, Cimicifuga ramosa, Actaea racemosa question

16 years ago

I work in a woodland garden in Zone 4 NH, along with a crew of plant people. We have several bugbanes growing there, but we're confused about which is which. Cimicifuga racemosa has been reclassified to Actaea racemosa, this much we know. What puzzles us is this:

What we think is the A. racemosa blooms in mid summer. But we also have a very similar looking one that blooms in very late summer and has also a much clearer, cleaner white blossom. Then there is a kind of miniature one that also blooms late but only reaches half the height, if that. A third has different foliage but is also small and a bright white blossom.

Can you shed any light on our dilemma?

Thank you.

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Comments (4)

terrestrial_man
16 years ago
Check the link below and be sure to check both pages. Clicking on the thumbnails will give alot more info to help.

Here is a link that might be useful: Actaea images and info
ladywindsurfer
16 years ago
I have observed the same variables in Cimicifuga racemosa (Basionym: Actaea racemosa) in my woodland. Some plants reach a height of 7-8+ ft. while others are only knee-high. Most of the ones observed are in the 4-5 ft. height range.
Bloom time can be anytime from midsummer onward until early fall.
Reading the plant description in the FNA (Link below), it seems that this is not unusual for the species.

Here is a link that might be useful: Flora of North America-Cimicifuga racemosa
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Mine (a different dark-leaved variety, Brunette) grows happily in a spot with a bit of morning sun and a bit of late afternoon sun, and relatively bright shade between. It's not a formal plant, but is quite nice - I wouldn't say only for a natural setting. The flowers are long bottle brushes, and come at a time when not a lot else is blooming in late summer. I find the foliage quite striking, rather like a larger, dark astilbe. The foliage is a tiny bit fuzzy and has a slightly unpleasant odor to my nose when brushed against, so I wouldn't put it right next to a door or pathway where people would come in contact with it, but a couple of feet away would be fine. I put mine in a bed where I knew some utility work would be happening down the road and I'd need to move it at some point. I thought perenials would be easier to move than shrubs after a couple of years . . . Well, the moving time arrived last fall, and the Cimicifuga had a large, dense, HEAVY rootball after just three years, so I would advise putting it where you won't have to move it. How about placing it just to the right or left of your cellar window?
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You are looking at two different species. Actaea (formerly Cimicifuga) racemosa is most likely the native bugbane you are seeing, although could also be A. americana - the two species are pretty well muddled. It blooms mid summer, generally July or August. Actaea simplex and hybrids are commonly known as autumn bugbane or snakeroot and bloom later, usually around September or October. These selections include the dark foliaged forms like 'Brunette', 'Black Negligee', 'James Compton', etc. , collectively known as the 'Atropurpurea Group'. These are sometimes sold as Cimicifuga ramosa, however that taxonomy is invalid. All in all, the taxonomy of this genus is pretty messed up when researching or tracking down specific plants :-) Selections of each are widely mislabeled in the trade. But very generally, Actaea or Cimicifuga racemosa will have early blooms, green foliage and unpleasantly scented flowers while A. or C. simplex/ramosa will have later blooms, often deep wine or burgundy foliage and honey-scented flowers. Are you confused enough now?? :-)
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I was reading this thread with interest as I just purchased a cimicifuga Brunette this spring. Glad to hear the flower smells nice, but I did notice while planting the plant this morning that the foliage does stink. It didn't give off any odor, however, until I brushed my hand over it while firming it into the soil. Then I wondered what on earth the smell was!It shouldn't matter since I didn't place it anywhere that it will be disturbed. Maybe it's a defence mechanism. I'm hoping this one blooms earlier than the C. simplex. Last year mine was covered with buds, but froze before they could open.
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Good photo of a great plant, Esh! I do love this plant. Mine are just starting to bloom, and all of them made it through the drought last year with NOT a bit of extra water. Most of mine are from rescues, too, but I do have some seedlings this season from the last of our rescues where there now is a big lake...all those plants we couldn't get out are now fish food. Anyway, thanks for sharing your prize.
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gmehl
16 years ago
Actaea racemosa (formerly Cimicifuga racemosa) blooms in mid summer. A similar species, Actaea podocarpa (formerly Cimicifuga americana) blooms a bit later. Known in our parts as Mountain bugbane, it's got larger leaves, sort of maple shaped. The smaller plant may simply be a yearling, not yet fully mature. A. podocarpa's range is from Pennsylvania to Georgia, whereas A. racemosa (black bugbane, black cohosh) extends well up into Canada. A third species, Actaea rubifolia, ranges a bit more westward (Pennsylvania to Alabama) and is much more rare.
xpressivblooms
4 years ago
Wow, this is an 11 year old thread, and now in 2021, I still find it difficult to track down clear description and photos of the various American Mountain Bugbane. I too in the north-east have seen similar to the poster's description in a small handfull of local garden landscapes. What baffles me is no mention of ‣ the intensely enchanting sweet vanilla pefume that wafts on the wind from this wonderful bottle-brush-like cluster of flowers!

BTW that enticing smell, along with the shape, is why I first thought the nik-name "fairy candles" was attributed-- but my rough research seems to state that nik-name is for it's stinkier cousin black cohash..? Well, I prefer to call the sweeter bugbane "fairy candles" as well, and so I will.

Now to find out if this magical late season blooming delight can be found at a local plant nursery. If it is rare, could be tough. Or if that fails, perhaps I'll be bold and knock on the door of someone in town who has it in their garden to ask either where they got or if willing to sell cuttings..?

Cimicifuga racemosa, Cimicifuga ramosa, Actaea racemosa question

Comments (4)

terrestrial_man

ladywindsurfer

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gmehl

xpressivblooms

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