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Gardening in Shade

Size of cimicifuga?

19 years ago

I have a shady spot to fill in and bought a bugbane (cimicifuga racemosa) because I like the late-blooming aspect of it. The tag says that it grows to 4' wide; that's a big plant! My spot is 4' wide but nowhere that deep. So the question: how easy is it to keep this plant under control? I've never had one before. All I've been able to find in my books is that cimicifuga "rarely needs division." Can I divide it? And how fast does it grow? I wouldn't mind planting it and changing it later if it is slow-growing, so I'd get a few years out of it.

Thanks -- David

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Comments (2)

virginia_w
19 years ago
I've had cimicifuga for a few years. They do eventually get
3-4 ' wide, and they are tall--about 5-6'. Mine self-seeds, so I find seedlings and have allowed them to grow where they start. It takes them a few years to get to full size. I like the fragrance, but I've heard it described as unpleasant :)I haven't divided any of them yet, but have moved a few smaller ones with no problem.
waplummer
19 years ago
A single-stalked plant will be about 3 ft in diameter. I have one with a half-dozen that is more like five-six feet in diameter. the leaves will bet 2-3 feet tall, but the flowering stalks can get up to 8 ft. It self-sows and I have been transplanting the seedlings (?) around so that now I have30-40 plants.
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