Blue Cohosh

Ecology & Conservation

Proximity Score

0

Native Status

✅ Outaouais ✅ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON

Closest Direction

Local

CEC Eco-Regions

5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians

Rarity Notes

Globally secure (G5) and nationally secure in both Canada (N5) and the United States (N5). Secure in Ontario (S5), apparently secure in Quebec (S4). Not listed under SARA. Locally, RS (rare/sensitive) status in the City of Ottawa with only one documented site at Antrim Woodlot, though 132 GBIF observations and 19 QC herbarium specimens indicate broader regional presence.

S22 G5/N5/S5-ON/S4-QC; S26 not SARA listed; S62 RS in Ottawa; S48 GBIF occurrences; S54 QC herbarium specimens

Rarity Ranks

QC S4 – Apparently Secure, ON S5 – Secure

Migration

Stable

Ecological Context

A characteristic herb of rich mesic deciduous forests, typically found in mature sugar maple-beech-basswood stands with intact ground flora. Occurs in floodplains, wooded slopes of ravines, and bluffs on fertile loamy soils with deep leaf litter. In the Gatineau region, specimens document it in tolerant hardwood stands on rocky slopes (erabliere a tilleul) and in Gatineau Park floodplain forests.

S10 rich mesic woodlands, bluffs, wooded slopes; S7 rich deciduous forests, beech-maple-basswood; S48 Gatineau specimens in erabliere habitats; S4 deciduous and mixed woods

Permaculture & Companion Planting

Roles

medicinal, pollinator support

S28 31 Moerman medicinal uses; S10 pollen and nectar rewards for early-season pollinators

Notes

Excellent ground-layer companion in walnut guilds due to confirmed juglone tolerance. Natural associate of sugar maple, basswood, and beech canopy trees in rich mesic forests. Tolerates deep shade and deer browsing, making it valuable as a persistent herbaceous layer beneath dense deciduous canopy.

S3 juglone tolerant, deer resistant; S7 beech-maple-basswood stands; S10 shade + rich soil preference

Medicinal Properties

ℹ

Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.

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Category

Gynecological Aid, Febrifuge, Antirheumatic, Antispasmodic, Emmenagogue, Sedative, Analgesic, Diuretic, Emetic, Anthelmintic

S28 Moerman categories; S29 PFAF medicinal properties

Notes

One of the most widely used medicinal plants among eastern Indigenous nations. Root preparations were used primarily as a gynecological aid to facilitate childbirth (Cherokee, Menominee, Meskwaki, Ojibwa) and to treat profuse menstruation. Also employed as a febrifuge (Iroquois, Omaha, Ponca), antirheumatic (Cherokee, Iroquois), gastrointestinal aid (Cherokee, Chippewa), and pulmonary aid (Chippewa). Health Canada lists it as an approved herbal ingredient. Should not be used during pregnancy prior to labour onset.

S28 31 uses across 9 Indigenous nations; S29 birthing aid, contraindications; S36 Health Canada approved herbal name

Edibility & Foraging

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Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.

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❌ Not Edible   

Foraging Notes

Roasted seeds have been used as a coffee substitute, though seeds are not produced in abundance. Raw seeds and roots are toxic, containing alkaloids and saponins that cause vomiting and diarrhea. The berries are explicitly not for human consumption.

S29 roasted seed coffee substitute; S4 raw seeds poisonous, alkaloid and saponins; S46 berries not for consumption

Toxicity

⚠️ Moderate Toxicity

Not listed in Cornell poisonous plants database and USDA rates toxicity as None. However, raw seeds and roots contain alkaloids (anagyrine, N-methyl-cytisine, baptifoline, magnoflorine) and saponins (caulosaponin, caulophyllosaponin) that cause vomiting and diarrhea if ingested. Excessive doses may produce symptoms similar to nicotine poisoning, including elevated blood pressure and vasoconstriction. Powdered root irritates mucous membranes. Contraindicated in patients with ischaemic heart disease or hypertension.

S38 not listed; S11 Toxicity=None; S4 alkaloid and saponins; S31 72 phytochemicals including anagyrine, N-methyl-cytisine; S29 nicotine-like symptoms, contraindications

Seed Source

• OWSL