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Common Name:

General Information

Coptis occidentalis is a Evergreen Perennial up to 0.15 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of materials.

Known Hazards

Although no specific mention of toxicity has been found for this species, it belongs to a family that contains many species that are mildly toxic and so it is wise to treat this plant with some caution.

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Western N. America - Idaho, Montana and Washington.

Habitat

Moist coniferous woods at elevations of 500-2000 metres in the Rocky Mountains[, , ].

Properties

Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.15 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a light moist humus-rich slightly acidic soil with a northerly aspect or light shade[, ].
This species is closely related to C. laciniata[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the root[, ].
Can be grown as a ground cover plant in the peat garden[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in an ericaceous compost[]. Seal the pot in a polythene bag until germination takes place, which is usually within 1 - 6 months at 10°c[]. Stored seed should be sown as early in the year as possible. Four weeks cold stratification may be beneficial[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a shady part of the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out in mid-autumn or in spring.
Division in spring[].