Meeting Synopsis by Nancy H. Greenwood
from the October 1996 meeting of the
Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group, Shade SIG
Reprinted with permission
Common name - Bugbane
From the Latin cimex, a bug, and fugo, to drive away, supposedly from the smell of C. foetida, which Linnaeus learned was dried and crushed and used in bedding to keep bugs away; also referred to as "Fairy Candles".
Description of Genus
FAMILY - RanunculaceaeAll species are between three and eight feet in height when in bloom, and between two and four feet wide. All have ternately compound leaves (three segments, three times). All species except C. japonica have small leaves on the flower stems. Foliage varies from almost fernlike to bold and coarse.
All species occur in nature in or at the edge of woods, and prefer moisture-retentive soil rich in leafmold, and full- to part-shade. Bloom time is mid-summer to late fall, and flowers appear similar, in long, sometimes branched racemes, having been described as "bottle-brush like" or "wandlike".
Inflorescences are distinguished by number of pistils, from 1-8, which are either stalked or sessile. Small individual flowers are apetalous, and petaloid sepals drop quickly, with numerous stains remaining to present the visual impact. In spite of their height, flower stalks are strong and staking is seldom necessary. Spent flower stalks are considered ornamental in the garden.
Number of species
Possibly twelve or thirteen. This genus is not yet completely understood. Populations found in different geographic areas have appeared very similar; some have identified varieties or even distinct species based on slight differences that others don't perceive or consider important.
Allen Armitage mentions "about eight" species, and describes five of the most available, C. americana, C. japonica (which he describes as a related species to C. americana), C. racemosa, C. ramosa and C. simplex.
Hortus Third mentions fifteen species but only describes nine, plus additional varieties. James Compton, in an article in The Garden (November, 1992), writes of six species from North America and six from Asia, with one of those, C. foetidus extending into eastern Europe. However, he identifies and/or describes only seven in all: C. racemosa, C. rubifolia, and C. americana from North America, and C. simplex, C. japonica, C. dahurica and C. foetida from Asia, with C. foetida extending into eastern Europe. He does not recognize C. ramosa as a separate species or as a variety of C. simplex, but it is widely recognized and accepted as a separate European species throughout Europe.
Species of Eastern Cimicifuga racemosa:
Known as 'Snakeroot' or North America 'Cohosh', or either with 'Black'; with wide distribution, especially in moist, acid woodlands from Mass. to Ga., Tenn., and Mo. 5 – 8' x 4' in bloom.
Easily adaptable to average garden conditions; vigorous, dependable, and long-lived. Light shade preferred, but will tolerate fairly deep shade to half day sun. Leaves deeply cut; leaflets ovate and irregularly toothed, pistils sessile. Racemes can be 2' in length, branched near base of terminal inflorescence. Armitage comments that there are fewer flower stalks produced on this species than others. Bloom time: mid-summer, beginning about mid-July in this area, and lasting for several weeks. There are references to the plant root being used medicinally.
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C. rubifolia: Shorter than the above, 2' - 4' in flower, with big leaves and heartshaped leaf bases. The terainal leaflet has five to nine prominent veins emanating from the base, like Rubus odoratus, the blackberry, and, according to Hortus, is ~7 lobed and 4-12 inches wide. Sometimes referred to as C. rubifolia Kearney, this species is found naturally in Tenn., possibly Va., and lll. also). Bloom time, early fall.. Compton comments that this species tends to be more adaptable to sunny situations. |
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C. americana: 2'- 6' x 3', this species is seldom seen in gardens, but is said by Armitage to be one of the most adaptable species to a wide range of conditions. Leaflets are 1 -3" long and rounded, with 3-5 toothed lobes and heart-shaped bases. Found in Pa. to W. Va., south to Ga. and Tenn. Bloom time, early fall. |
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Fairy Snow" is a pure white bloomer obtaining about 8" in height. |
Species of Asia and C. simplex:
Known as Kamchatka Bugbane; native to Europe Kamchatka, north-east China, Korea, and Japan; Compton attributes differences in form to the wide natural distribution. The last species to flower. Armitage has observed that flower stalks are more arching than those of C. racemosa, to 5'-6' in bloom. Said by Compton to be the most widely grown species.
Cultivars:
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C. s.'White Pearl': Coming into bloom about mid~October in suburban Philadelphia. Known in Europe especially as 'Armleuchter'. Long arching flower spikes. Green stems and leaves; stems have a few lateral branches. Said to be superior to the species. |
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C. s. 'Elstead Variety': Compton writes that this is the very last to flower (at least in England). Finely cut dark green foliage; purplish brown buds, according to Armitage; Compton describes stems, leaves, and buds tinged pink. |
C. ramosa:
A questionably distinct (at least to James Compton, one of the few recognized experts on this genus) European species.. According to Compton, it is merely an invalid synonym of C. simplex. Nonetheless, it is the species name recognized and accepted in European horticulture, and, to a large extent, in America as well. According to Armitage, it is 6'-7' tall, and more ornamental than C. racemosa.
Cultivars:
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C. r. 'Atropurpurea': Purple leaves, stems, and buds; flagrant. Relatively few but tall (more than 6') stems. One of the last to flower. Most of the plants sold under this name are seed propagated, and Compton dismisses it as any form of C. simplex with purple coloration. |
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C. r. 'Brunette' (or C. s. 'Brunette'): a seedling selection made in 1975 in Denmark by Christensen. All plants from that nursery were propagated by division, with all leaves very purple. According to Compton, the whole plant is copper-beech colored, with purple buds and sweet fragrance. |
Culture
All species prefer moisture-retentive soil, rich in organic matter, but none is considered a wetland plant, and several of those species and cultivars which are readily available seem to easily adapt to average moisture typical of a border in the eastern U.S. However, several authors indicate discoloration and shriveling of foliage if the plants are allowed to dry out too much, i.e., extra watering is needed in time of drought.
Purple-leaved selections and cultivars need some sun for best coloration, according to experts like Mary Ann McGourty, "mother" of 'Hillside Black Beauty'. However, the foliage of these and virtually all of the species will scorch with too much sun. Half day seems to be about at much as they can tolerate for optimum performance.
The foliage of C. s. Atropurpurea and possibly others may not show full purple color until the second year, and some selections are definitely more fully purple than others, since most plant sold under that name are seedlings. With C. s. 'Brunette', all plants released by the originator, Greta Petersen and her family in Lynge, Denmark have been by division, and any plant that is produced by division should have exactly the coloration of the parent.
I couldn't find information on production of plants sold under this name in the U.S. The plants to be released in 1997 as C. s. 'Hillside Black Beauty' are patented and are being reproduced by tissue culture.
Barry Yinger has grown eight species in his garden in York County, PA, and he recommends C. racemosa and C. rubifolia as best for our general climate, with its hot dry summers. He has found that C. foetida, C. simplex, C. ramosa, and C. dahunca have failed to thrive and/or been short-lived, and he would only recommend them for someone with a cool, mossy dell near a spring, where there would be a good supply of moisture all summer. He finds C. s. 'White Pearl' the best of the Asian species for our area. He likes C. japonica var. acerina for its bold foliage, but he found that the foliage burns easily. He has grown C. s. 'Brunette' and has found it very intolerant of the heat in our area, not a good specimen where it has survived. I n contrast, it seems a great plant for the New England area.
Notes on bloom: All blooms last for several weeks in the garden, and all are good for cutting. Bloom does not usually begin until the second year in the garden, except for C. japonica and C. j. var. acerina, which bloom the first year on very short (about l' stems), then assume the more "normal" height of 4' after the second year.
Propagation
Propagation is by division or seed. Armitage cautions against division with plants until they have been in the ground at least three years, because of the deep root systems. All species are considered difficult to divide.
Propagation by seed has long been described as very difficult and erratic. Armitage recommends fresh seed, at least specifically for C. americana and C. racemosa, and 6-8 weeks of 35-40 degrees, followed by 70-75 degrees, with germination over a long period of time.
In contrast, Deno found 100% success in germinating C. racemosa that had been dry stored for six months first, in 3-6 weeks at 40 degrees, after 3 months at 70 degrees, or 100% ins - 7 weeks at 40 after 40 - 70, for fresh or dry stored seed. With fresh seed, he found that 70-40-70-40 was required for success with most seeds. Several authors refer to the lack of availability of some of the species, because of the difficulties attending propagation, not because there is no demand.