Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) packet of 20 seeds, Organic (available in the USA only)
$9.95
Family: Crowfoot (Ranunculaceae)
Hardy to Zones 4 to 8
Native to the Eastern hardwood forests, this plant adapts beautifully to the shade garden or may be seeded into the woodlands. One might wonder about the functionality of planting a relatively rare and slow-growing medicinal herb from seed, when potted plants or live rootstock would appear to be a faster way to having the herb in your garden. Well, it turns out that growing the plant in place from seed can be a better choice. The plant gains a sense of place and there is no transplant shock. All the plant can do is get bigger, which is not always the case with setting roots into the garden–sometimes they actually shrink over time. Goldenseal prefers a protected spot with deep, moist, slightly acidic loam soil and dappled shade. Traditional usage: TWM, bitter, astringent and antibacterial, MRSA, wounds, oral infections, conjunctivitis, digestive bitter. We generally begin shipping fresh goldenseal seeds in June and continue until the seeds run out. Sow seeds in moist forest soil in a flat in the shadehouse immediately upon receipt. Another option is to go into the shade garden or forest, lift back the mulch and barely cover the seeds in the mineral soil, tamp securely, then replace the mulch back on top of the seeding. Germination is in the spring. Space plants 1 foot apart.
Packet of 20 seeds, Certified Organically Grown
[AVAILABLE IN THE USA ONLY, NO INTERNATIONAL SALES]
Out of stock
Related products
Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) potted plant, organic
$11.00 – $102.00 Select options
Question
Sheila Culver –
Hi Richo,
1) I have a lot of pins there but will it grow under the pine forest here ? However about under the black walnut trees ? Will it grow there ?
2) I am purchasing the Russian Comfrey now for September delivery. But the Goldenseal seed is not going to germinate until spring. Should I wait and order later ?
Thanks,
Sheila
(0) (0) Watch Unwatch
Richo Cech –
Hi Sheila, Thanks for staying in touch. Goldenseal seeds will be available for only another few days before they sell out, so that is the ruling factor, besides the requirement for warm/cold/warm germ cycle. If you plant the seeds in a gallon pot you can grow them on that way for 2 years before transplanting to habitat in the fall. perhaps by then you’ll have access to broadleaf hardwood tree shade. that is better than pine, and i’m not so sure about walnut–walnut only in a mixed stand would be best. juglone you know… richo
(0) (0)
Sheila Culver –
Thanks Rocho.
I want to grow it for my nose rinse. I have your book Making Plant medicine and it states that I have to use root tincture. But if I dig the root out in the fall, how soon can I do so if I buy your roots( but they are out of order too.. when will it be back ?). Can the plant survive if I dig the root out in the fall ? Can I use stem/leaf to substitute the roots ?
Also looking for your new book Planting Medicinal plant coming out soon !!
(0) (0)
Richo Cech –
hi sheila,
you can use the root tincture. we will list goldenseal live roots starting in september for fall and early winter delivery, it is true that you could get 6 of them and make your own tincture with them, so you would have something to use relatively soon. i would think 6 roots would be a minimum mass for being able to tincture. or grow them on for a few years and let them bulk up and then you’d have more. r
(0) (0)
Sheila Culver –
Hi, Rocho, I want to purchase the roots for planting. I could just buy the root inure somewhere else ? do you sell tincture or the herb ready to use ? My question is once I plant them, if I dig them out later, could I still replant that plant ?
(0) (0)
Richo Cech –
hi sheila, yes, probably. i usually recommend Herb Pharm and I think they discontinued goldenseal root tincture. it would be nice to find someone offering the tincture from cultivated roots. i don’t have any recommendations. richo
(0) (0)
Question
Deserai Hiemier –
When will seeds be expected to be back in stock?
(0) (0) Watch Unwatch
Richo Cech –
Hello Deserai, Thanks for contacting! Right now Goldenseal plants are available and getting the plants would give you a significant head-start. We won’t be listing the seeds until closer to the season. We generally begin shipping fresh goldenseal seeds in June and continue until the seeds run out. Sow seeds in moist forest soil in a flat in the shadehouse immediately upon receipt. Another option is to go into the shade garden or forest, lift back the mulch and barely cover the seeds in the mineral soil, tamp securely, then replace the mulch back on top of the seeding. Germination is in the spring. richo
(0) (0)
Question
Renaud Paradis –
Hydrastis canadensis (which comes from Canada)
Why can’t i, in Canada, Order a plant coming from my country ?
(0) (0) Watch Unwatch
Richo Cech –
Hello Renaud, Thanks for staying in touch. We’re not responsible for international customs regulations and this plant is also CITES listed. The naming of the plant came prior to an understanding of the distribution of the plant. The gene-centers are in the ohio river valley and the ozark plateau. The distribution does stretch up into southern canada. It is possible that you could obtain some canadian-grown material. You might check with the Canadian company “Richters.”
Richo
(0) (0)
Question
Renaud Paradis –
Hydrastis canadensis (which cônes from Canada)
Why can’t i, in Canada, Order a plant coming from my country ?
(0) (0) Watch Unwatch
Question
Amy –
Is it possible to order some and not have them packed in coir? ( I am allergic to all things palm tree ) can it be sent to me in moss or damp sand instead?
(0) (0) Watch Unwatch
Richo Cech –
we’re out of coir right now so it would be packed in peat moss. please leave a note in the “customer comments” field when ordering saying not to use coir, just in case.
(0) (0)
Question
Renee H –
Your description of Goldenseal says hardy zones 4-7. Would I be amiss to attempt it in zone 8b?
(0) (0) Watch Unwatch
Richo Cech –
Hi Renee, Not really, we used to be a Z7 here and got heated up to a Z8 and we have very vibrant goldenseal patches. If you’re in a warmer zone, you need to water the plants more frequently through the summer. It would be helpful to read the “goldenseal” chapter in “Growing at-risk.” richo
(0) (0)
Renee H –
Another question: The description of Goldenseal says that starting from seed can be better than transplanting roots or a potted plant into the ground. Would it be possible to actually just grow it in a container? (I have _Growing At-Risk Herbs_ in my shopping cart now. 🙂 )
(0) (0)
Richo Cech –
Hi Renee,
Yes, I’ve grown goldenseal in gallon pots in the shade before, and they did really, really well. I used a compost/loam mix and mulched about 2 inches thick, just heaped it up actually, with moist coir over the top. You could get going at this time of year by planting the live roots–that would be your beat option. Richo
(0) (0)
Question
Annie –
do deer eat goldenseal? wondering if I need a protected woods spot or not
(0) (0) Watch Unwatch
Richo Cech –
Deer around here don’t eat goldenseal. it is neither sweet nor mucilaginous, and those are the things deer like.
(1) (0)
Question
Mary Foltz –
We are buying a house near Shenandoah Natl Park, wooded with shade, but won’t be moving in till first week of November. Is it too soon to buy seeds to plant in the ground? What about buying root stock? I’m new to planting in Virginia. Thank you!
(0) (0) Watch Unwatch
Admin Richo Cech –
Hi Mary,
You’ll be happier with the roots, I think, and these do well in SNP, and we will have them on into late November.
r
(0) (0)
Question
Lucy –
When will goldenseal seeds be available?
(0) (0) Watch Unwatch
Admin Richo Cech –
Around midsummer.
(0) (0)
Alissa Lewis –
When will the Goldenseal seeds be back in stock?
(0) (0)
Richo Cech –
Hello Alissa, We’ll re-enable purchasing in the summer when the goldenseal berries again ripen. It works best to work with fresh seed. Meanwhile we have lots of goldenseal plants that we will be distributing starting early spring. richo
(1) (0)