I’m a big fan of plants that produce different attractive features at different times of year. They’re double-your-money plants which give you two bursts of color or appeal at different seasons.

The blue cohosh, Caulophyllum thalictroides, is another of those unexpected members of the Berberis family – think Epimedium, Podophyllum and Jeffersonia – which are valuable shade-loving garden perennials. And this week Caulophyllum thalictroides is presenting us with the first of its four - yes, four – features.

Aren’t these purple shoots amazing (left, click to enlarge)? And against the marbled foliage of Arum maculatum ‘'McClement's Form’, they stand out dramatically. Caulophyllum would be worth growing even if it did nothing else. [Note to self: Must split that arum and spread it out more to make an even better background.]

Soon, those sultry stems expand and that purple coloring is carried over into slightly bluish foliage, prettily silvered underneath at first. The large leaves seem to vary in the amount of bluish or even purplish coloring they reveal. When growing strongly, each leaflet splits into three towards the tip (right, click to enlarge).

Next on the list are the flowers. Not dramatic, I have to say, but appealing nonetheless, the spikes of small slightly mustard- or bronze-colored flowers are held just above the leaves later in spring. Finally, in early autumn there are often, but not always, clusters of deep blue berries dusted in white bloom.

Few perennials can boast of revealing four interesting features in less than six months.

Caulophyllum has also had many practical uses. In particular this widespread eastern American shade lover has been used by indigenous peoples against a variety of complaints including rheumatism, toothache, indigestion, stomach cramps, fits and hysterics, and especially in relation to preventing conception and childbirth.

And at this time of year, those purple shoots are stretching ever day.