Early Blue Cohosh, Caulophyllum giganteum, in bloom. All photos by Edward O’Connor.

Early Blue Cohosh

Another Native Knockout

I like every element of the popular name: Early Blue Cohosh. Early means the flowers appear when I most long for them — in April, when winter has just released its grip, and the soil, if not frozen, is still clammy and cold. Blue signifies a color I don’t see much of so early in the season, aside from the violets that grow in bunches just as this plant is raising its purple stalks in the air…