Berberidaceae

Blue cohosh

Caulophyllum thalictroides (L.) Michx.

Family: Berberidaceae
Genus: Caulophyllum

Pet and kid safety: not checked yet. Check pet-safe plants

Blue cohosh: Blue Cohosh found growing on the trails at University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens . — Photo: carol, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons

Is yours looking unwell? Scan your plant — free

Common names

By language (3)

English: Blue cohosh
Hungarian: Kék indiángyökér
Japanese: ブルーコーッシュ, カリオフィルム・サリクトロイデス

Synonyms

Caulophyllum thalictroides var. thalictroides
Leontice thalictrifolium Salisb.
Leontice thalictroides L.

Flowers

Flower colour: purple (USDA PLANTS Database)

Characteristics

Growth habit: Forb/herb
Lifespan: Perennial
In the US and Canada: Canada: native, Lower 48 states: native

Photos

Photo: carol, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Fritzflohrreynolds, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Fritzflohrreynolds, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Joshua Mayer from Madison, WI, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Ayotte, Gilles, 1948-, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Ayotte, Gilles, 1948-, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Ayotte, Gilles, 1948-, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons

More in Caulophyllum

Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.