Blue Cohosh
Caulophyllum thalictroides
Lacy, thalictrum-like foliage emerges with a smoky purple bloom in early spring, turning glaucous blue-green beneath understated greenish-yellow flowers. In late summer, the naked seeds mature into striking, pea-sized cobalt-blue berries atop bare stalks. All parts contain quinolizidine alkaloids and saponins; toxic if eaten raw.
- Family
- Berberidaceae
- Type
- wildflower
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 1–2 ft
- Spacing
- 0.5–1 ft apart
- Light
- shade
- Soil moisture
- moist
- Soil pH
- acidic, neutral
- Bloom
- April, May
- Bloom colors
- yellow, green, brown
- Wildlife value
- pollinators, mammals
- Landscape uses
- naturalizing
- Native states
- AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV