Family: Crowsfoot (Ranunculacea)
Hardy to Zone 4 to 9
(Rattle Pod, Actaea racemosa) Perennial, native to the Eastern Forest biome in the US. Hardy to all temperate zones. One of the best and most robust of herbal landscape plants. Striking foliage and tall white racemes. Plant prefers edge of forest or shade garden. Black Cohosh withstands more shade than most forest-dependent plants, and if the seedlings are worked up for several years until they are quite large, then you can even plant it in the open garden with good results. Sow in fall for germination in first or second spring, or give 3 months warm followed by 3 months cold followed by warm again. If this scenario is followed, germ then occurs in warm soil in 1-2 weeks. Work seedlings up in pots in the shadehouse for a year or two before transplanting out. A long-lived plant, development is slow at first, but given adequate compost and moisture during the growing season, monumental individuals can eventually be achieved.
Packet contains 50 seeds