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Common Name: Yellowroot

General Information

Xanthorhiza simplicissima is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 1.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials..

Known Hazards

The root, when taken in high doses, is potentially toxic[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eastern N. America - New York to West Virginia and south to Florida and Alabama.

Habitat

Shaded stream banks, moist woods, thickets, and rocky ledges from sea level to 1200 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	1.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a moist acid soil in sun or part shade[]. Prefers shade or semi-shade[]. Succeeds in any moist fertile soil according to other reports[, , ].
Hardy to about -20°c[].
Plants can spread considerably by means of suckers[], especially when they are growing in a light soil[].
A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The root is astringent and a blood tonic[]. A tea made from the roots is used to treat mouth ulcers[], stomach ulcers, colds, jaundice etc[, ]. An infusion of the roots has also been used to treat piles, though the report does not specify if it is used internally or externally[]. Some caution is advised in the use of this plant, see the notes above on toxicity.
The root contains the alkaloid 'berberine' which is used for its tonic properties and for digestive disorders[]. Berberine is anti-inflammatory, astringent, haemostatic, antispasmodic, immuno-stimulant, uterine tonic and antimicrobial[]. It stimulates the secretion of bile and bilirubin and may be helpful in correcting high tyramine levels in people with liver cirrhosis[].

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the root[, ]. The entire plant can be crushed to yield a yellow dye[].
A good ground cover for damp semi-shaded positions[, ]. Plants should be spaced about 1.2 metres apart each way[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the autumn[]. Sow stored seed in a cold frame in late winter. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division in the autumn or late winter[].