Plant of the month:Cimicifuga (Actaea racemosa)

This one is a conversation-starter! If you want a dramatic addition to your shade garden and have a little patience while it's establishing, Cimicifuga is a good bet.

Bugbane, one of this plant’s common names and the one I usually remember, towers above most other plants in the garden, at 6 ft. to 8 ft. tall.

The foliage, itself, is noteworthy for its feathery form (here, surrounded by Ferns).

Before flowering, stalks rise up from the center of the plant and form circular flower buds.

When the flowers are in full bloom—from midsummer to fall—they resemble exploding fireworks. And after blooming, seed pods form along the stem, so the plant retains autumn interest.

Here are a few facts about Bugbane from various sources*:

• Prefers woodland-type, moisture-retentive soil;
• Thrives in full to partial shade, but tolerates more sun if the soil is moist;
• Good neighbors: Astilbe, Japanese Anemone, Ferns, and Hydrangeas;
• Other common names: Cohosh, Snakeroot, Fairy Candles;
• Grows best in USDA zones three to eight;
• Best propagated by division in the spring, or from fresh seed;
• Native to central and eastern U.S.;
• Repels pests and was used by Native Americans as a snakebite antidote;
• Rarely bothered by pests.

And here’s what I’ve learned about Bugbane through several years of experience:

• Transplanting can be a little challenging. I’ve given several friends transplants, with 50/50 results.
• Planting from seed seems to work as well as transplanting. When the seed pods form in fall, cut a portion of the stalk and plant it upside-down with seed pods in the soil—directly in the ground or in a pot to start.
• The scent is musky and slightly unpleasant—it’s easy to understand why Bugbane repels pests.
• It’s a great anchor plant at the back of a perennial bed.
• It looks ethereal when backlit by the setting sun.

When Bugbane blooms, I know the heart of the summer has arrived. It’s a stately focal point in the garden, it attracts beneficial pollinators, and it repels the bane of Wisconsin summers—the dreaded mosquito.

Planted a moderate distance from the house (to avoid the strong scent), it can’t be beat as a unique addition to a multi-level shade plant garden.


* "Annuals, Bulbs & Perennials," Anness Publishing Ltd., London; "Carefree Plants," Reader's Digest Books, Pleasantville, N.Y.; usda.gov