Hydrastis canadensis

Common Names

Goldenseal, Yellow Puccoon, Orange Root, Eye Balm, Yellow Root, Gold Seal, Golden Seal, Indian Turmeric, Ground Raspberry

Summary

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) is a North American woodland herb with a knotted yellow rhizome that forms dense patches, it is a small to medium perennial reaching about 15–50 cm tall, with erect stems and two cauline leaves that are palmately lobed, and it bears white flowers in spring followed by raspberry-like red berries containing 10–30 seeds, native to rich, mesic deciduous forests across eastern North America, it prefers moist, well-drained soils in shaded habitats and is notable for its yellow underground rhizome and bitter alkaloids hydrastine, berberine, and canadine, cultivation emphasizes shady, moist woodland conditions with loamy, organic-rich soil and a pH around 5.5–6.5, propagation can occur by rhizome division or by seed, though seed germination is slow and variable, harvesting typically begins after three to five years from rhizome divisions or five to seven years from seed, with roots dried for medicinal use, the plant is valued for traditional medicinal applications addressing digestive disorders and mucous membranes, and alkaloids contribute antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, overharvest and habitat loss have reduced wild populations, leading to protection under CITES Appendix II and encouragement of cultivation to reduce wild collection, it also serves ornamental and woodland garden roles in shaded areas

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6-20 inches

Spread

9-12 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade; not in full sun; can tolerate full shade.

Soil Type

Moist, loamy, humus-rich soil with good drainage and a pH around 5.5–6.5

Soil Drainage

Moist but well-drained soil.

Soil pH

5.5-6.5

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring (April–May, sometimes into early June)

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Golden, Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Very slow

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division (rhizomes), Cuttings (root cuttings), Layering (rootlet layering)

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees and other pollinators, Attracts birds