Black snakeroot (black cohosh)

Black snakeroot, Actaea racemosa, is a shade-loving woodland perennial native to the eastern and midwestern states. It is also called black cohosh, black bugbane, or just bugbane. You are very likely to find it sold as Cimicifuga racemosa, bcause there has been botanical confusion and controversy over its genus. Should not be mixed up with the similarly-named "common black snakeroot," Sanicula odorata, a low-growing member of the carrot family.

 
For more about black snakeroot and native plants for the Midwest, especially those that do well in shade/moist areas, see the "book" on this website, Gardening with Native Plants in Shady Evanston.