Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Chocoholic Bugbane will be one of your favorite plants if you're a chocoholic and a plant addict. Also called Cimicifuga 'Chocoholic', this pretty perennial produces chocolate-like, bronze-purple leaves. In late summer and early fall, fragrant bottlebrush flowers rise above the foliage, adding some light pink/mauve to the deep color mix. The flowers provide a lacy contrast to the deep greenish-brown leaves below. Reaching about 4 feet high, it's a perfect foundation plant or border plant along a sidewalk or garden bed.
The mauve flowers of Chocoholic Bugbane attract bees and butterflies. Deer and rabbits tend to ignore this fragrant native to North America. Because it is native to wooded areas, Chocoholic Bugbane grows well in partial shade, making it a great choice for areas of a yard shaded by trees or structures part of the day. The Cimicifuga can survive the cold of zone 4 and summer heat up to zone 8.
Chocoholic Bugbane Care
Plant your Chocoholic Bugbane where it gets mostly or dappled shade and where the soil can hold some of its moisture. It needs just enough sunlight to develop its full chocolate-purple color. Adding some organic matter to the soil when planting will help with water retention. Water the plant regularly and consistently through spring, summer and fall. Cimicifuga grows slowly but will reach its full height in a few years. Do not disturb the mature plant; it will not transplant well.
Chocoholic Bugbane Spacing
For a border, be sure to space your bugbanes 30 to 40 inches apart from one another's centers. Chocoholic Bugbane commonly is called bugbane or black snakeroot.
Chocoholic Bugbane Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 4 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Full Shade to Part Shade (0-4 Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 48-50 Inches
- Mature Spread
- 30-34 Inches
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Consistently Moist
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Pink, White
- Flower Description
- Pink & White
- Bloom Time
- Early to Mid-Summer
- Foliage Color
- , Purple, Black
- Foliage Description
- Brown to Purple
- Foliage Type
- , Herbaceous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Summer Flowering, Fall Flowering, 3 Season Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Chocoholic Bugbane
- Also Known As
- Black Snakeroot
- Botanical Name
- Chocoholic' Cimicifuga hybrid USPP 24,821
- Brand
- Proven Selections
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!