Xanthorhiza simplicissima

Common Names

Yellowroot, Shrub Yellowroot, Yellow Root

Summary

Yellowroot is a native, deciduous shrub of eastern North America with a suckering, ground-covering habit. It grows about 0.5–3 ft tall and 6–10 ft wide, forms dense colonies, and features celery-like pinnate leaves with 3–5 leaflets; in spring it bears small purple flowers in drooping panicles, while roots and inner bark are distinctly bright yellow.

It prefers moist, well-drained soils that are acidic to neutral and tolerates a wide range of moisture and light, from partial shade to full shade, along damp woods and stream banks; hardy in zones 3–9; spreads by rhizomes and can be maintained with division or root cuttings, making it a practical erosion-control ground cover in woodland settings; roots yield yellow dye and have traditional medicinal uses; it is deer resistant and low-maintenance.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6 inches to 3 feet

Spread

6-10 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade; tolerates full sun and full shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained soil, acidic to neutral pH, rich in organic matter

Soil Drainage

Moist but well-drained soil

Soil pH

Acidic to neutral

Bloom Color

Purple

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow to red or purple, with bronzy or bronzy-yellow tones in fall

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Rapid

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division, Root cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, other pollinators, and birds