Black Cohosh Live Root (Cimicifuga racemosa), organic

Richo Cech 15 Comments

(The Latin name Cimicifuga racemosa is synonymous with the Latin name Actaea racemosa)

Black Cohosh is the most universally adaptable of all the Appalachian medicinals. We receive ongoing reports from gardening friends all over the United States who have been hugely successful in cultivating this plant from our vigorous, weighty rootstock. A showy favorite on the shady border, striking compound leaves give rise to tall white flowering racemes to 5 feet. The tincture of fresh root is proestrogenic, antidepressant, pain relieving, sedative, peripheral vasodilating, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory, customarily used to control the infamous “hot flashes” of menopause. Useful in home medicine and high market demand.
Planting Black Cohosh Roots:  Best to plant dormant live roots in the fall for emergence in the spring.  May be planted in woodlands, shady garden or in pots.  Black Cohosh likes a little shade, but it does withstand more sunlight than goldenseal, bloodroot and blue cohosh. This plant will grow as a standard garden plant and does not really need to be in a woodland setting, although it will grow fine in the woods, too.  In any case, Black Cohosh loves deep, humusy soils and plenty of organic compost.  These roots do well when planted deeply–dig a 6 inch hole, nestle the roots down in, rootlets spread out below the rhizome, bud(s) pointing straight up, then bury with bud 1 to 3 inches below soil surface, tamp in, and cover with 2 inches or more of mulch.  Regular forest mulch, rotted leaves, or coir work well.  Commercial bark mulch is not a good choice. Plant roots between 2 feet and 4 feet apart. Water once after planting, after which winter rain and snowfall will keep them sufficiently watered. The roots will overwinter under the mulch and the plant will emerge in the spring.  If during the spring and summer the planting becomes very dry (ie no rain for 2 weeks) then it is a good idea to water them.   That is all the care that is usually required. If potting up, use standard potting soil, one root per pot, 3 gallon pot or bigger. Mulch on top of the pot and place in shade garden, patio, greenhouse, etc.

Live roots certified organically grown

Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides), packet of 5 seeds, organic [INTL. NO]

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Note:  These are fresh seeds from the new harvest, delivered in moist coir.

Family:  Barberry (Berberidaceae)

Hardy to Zones 3 to 7

(Blueberry) Woodland herbaceous perennial native to Appalachia, growing to 3 feet tall.  Beautiful three-lobed, blue-green compound leaves with interesting flowers in early spring that give way to clusters of dark blue berries, each held aloft on a characteristically thickened stipe.   Traditional use (NA, TWM): Used in combination with other herbs as a partus preperateur employed toward the end of the last trimester. Once used by midwives during labor to speed the birth process, currently not much used.  Plant prefers deep shade and moist, fertile soil containing plenty of organic matter.  Shy and demure, she grows in the deepest hollows of Appalachia, with a more northerly distribution and increased cold tolerance over the classic forest medicinals such as goldenseal, virginia snakeroot, wild yam, etc.)  These will prosper in most temperate shade gardens.  The seed is a 2-phase germinator (makes a root the first year, aerial parts the second year) so long germination times are typical and must be expected and prepared for.  These very large and cartilagenous seeds will do well direct-seeded into woodland beds or in a pot or flat in the shadehouse.  We sell only pre-stratified seed that is moist and packed in coir.  Sow as soon as possible after receipt, with aerial parts showing in the first or second spring.  If you receive seeds from us that already have a root, this is a good thing, and they should be nestled into the soil with root poking down.   In this case, aerial parts will show in the first spring.   There is a ton of information about this plant, and its unique reproductive biology, in the “Blue Cohosh” Chapter of “Growing at-risk Medicinal Herbs, Cultivation, Conservation and Ecology.”  The plant is largely responsible for the safe homebirths of 2 children in our community.
5 seeds/pkt., Certified organically grown (Fresh, undried seed already stratified for a full year and delivered moist.  Sow immediately upon receipt.)

[Sorry, NO International sales of this seed]

Wild Yam, American–Four-Leaf Yam (Dioscorea quaternata) potted plant, organic

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Family:  Yam (Dioscoraceae)

Hardy to zones to  6 to 9

(Fourleaf Yam) Native to Appalachia and hardy to 0 degrees F. Vining herbaceous perennial with thick stems and heavy, knuckled roots. In many cases this plant can be found in the deep forest, where it can make a sturdy, upright and self-supporting plant showing only a single whorl of four leaves.  One can also find Dioscorea quaternata living at the edge of the forest, where the increased availability of light encourages it to vine up into the overstory.  Traditional usage (TWM): antispasmodic for smooth tissues; stomach, bowel or menstrual cramps. This plant is highly adaptable to most shade gardens in the temperate US. Trellis.   Space plants 2 to 3 feet apart.

Potted Plant, Certified Organically Grown

 

Mormon Tea, Nevada (Ephedra nevadensis) potted plant, organic

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Family:  Joint Fir (Ephedraceae)

Hardy to zone 6 to 12

Perennial, primitive shrub with jointed stems.  Native to the American Southwest. Plant prefers full sun and alkaline, dry to mesic soils.  Probably best to pot up to bigger pots and grow out for a year or two before transplanting to landscape.   Traditional usage: Mormon.  Used as a non-stimulating bronchial dilator for palliative treatment of the common cold or asthma.

Potted Plant, Certified Organically Grown

 

Ma-huang (Ephedra sinica) potted seedling, organic

Richo Cech 134 Comments

Hi friends,  If you get here and the plants are sold out, please remember to hit “waitlist.”   We have these on an ongoing basis.  Richo

Family:  Joint Fir (Ephedraceae)

Hardy to Zones 3 to 9

Evergreen perennial paleo-herb. Dioecious–both male and female plants must be present in order to make seed.  Both male and female plants are used interchangeably for medicinal purposes. Native to the steppes of Northern China, Ma-huang prospers in full sun, dry soils, and is quite cold-tolerant (our patch bravely survived an 18 inch snow cover that occurred during a particularly cold Southern Oregon winter). Preparation of the right microsite is particularly important for a plant of this nature, which must maintain a dry, warm crown during the growing season lest the crown begin to rot. The best preparation is to spread about 4 inches of sand on the surface, then plant the ma-huang through the sand, with its roots down in the mineral soil and sand all around the crown. This excellent drainage and the reflection of the sun up onto the plant will greatly improve the health, growth and survivability of ma-huang. Traditional usage:  TCM, the tea is used as a bronchial dilator for treating asthma.  CNS stimulant.  Overdose can be dangerous.  Space plants 3 feet apart.

Potted seedling, 4-inch deep pot, the aerial parts are about 6 inches, these are unsexed, seedgrown individuals, Certified Organically grown