This woodland plant, native to
the eastern United States, is not well known but really a delight to grow. Its
flowers tall fuzzy white spikes. The leaves are attractive and fernlike rather
like that of astilbe. Cimicifuga racemosa grows five to six feet tall,
sometimes even taller and flowers in mid to late summer and flowers in mid to
late summer sometimes earlier. C. simplex grows about three feet tall and
blooms in fall. Moreover both species like part shade and moist, woodsy soil,
but C. Simplex will do well in full sun. Division is not necessary but the
stems often need to be stake up to where the flower begins.
