Blue Cohosh

Did you know

• The small yellow-green flowers are followed by striking blue berries that look like blueberries but are inedible and mildly toxic.
• Despite resembling berries, the blue 'fruits' are actually exposed seeds — the seed coat expands and takes on a fleshy appearance.
• The genus name Caulophyllum means 'stem leaf' in Greek, referring to the large leaf that appears to grow directly from the stem.
• Blue cohosh was widely used by many Native American peoples, including the Ojibwe, as a childbirth aid, earning it the folk name 'squaw root.'
• New growth emerges in spring with a distinctive blue-green, waxy hue that gradually greens as the season progresses.

Color meanings

Uses

• medicinal (traditional)
• ornamental
• wildlife habitat