Actaea rubifolia – Appalachian Fairy Candles

Appalachian Fairy Candles is related to Black Cohosh (A. racemosa) but is more compact, later to flower and has sweet-smelling flowers.  It comes from the central and southern Appalachian Mts where it’s becoming increasingly rare. The fluffy flowers lack petals – normally the showy part of the flower – their showiness derives from numerous stamens – the male flower part – that are bunched together in each flower. Also known as Appalachian Bugbane – its long been mislabeled in the nursery trade as Cimicifuga racemosa var. cordifolia.