Dormant live roots ordered now will ship fall of 2025
Goldenseal Live Root (Hydrastis canadensis), organic
$7.00 – $120.00
Family: Crowfoot (Ranunculaceae)
Hardy to zones 4 to 8
Herbaceous perennial native to the hardwood forest biome of the eastern, southern and midwestern states. Flowers greenish-shite to 14 inches. Fall-planting of healthy and recently harvested stock is the absolute key to growing beautiful goldenseal from dormant roots. Traditional usage (TWM, Native American): Premier astringent and tonic agent for treating any and all afflictions of the mucous membranes, including colds, sore throat, sinusitis and conjunctivitis. Incredibly useful in home medicine and as always very big in the herb trade.
Organically Grown at Strictly Medicinal Seeds
Planting Goldenseal Roots: Best to plant dormant live roots in the fall for emergence in the spring. May be planted in woodlands, shade garden or in pots. Prefers dappled sunlight over complete shade. Grows best in woodlands under the shade of hardwood trees, not conifers. Choose a place with deep, humus-laden soil. Organic compost may be added to poor soil in order to improve growth of Goldenseal, but if the soil is already a deep forest loam then amending with compost is not necessary. Rake away existing mulch and plant root in the mineral soil, just below the surface, buds up, buds barely covered by mineral soil. Spread out rootlets below rhizome and tamp in firmly. Then cover with mulch, about 2 inches deep of mulch. Regular forest mulch, rotted leaves, or coir work well. Commercial bark mulch is not a good choice. Plant roots between 1 foot and 2 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 and probably flower first thing 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, gallon pot or bigger. Mulch on top of the pot and place in shade garden.
Dormant roots certified organically grown
Question
Sasa –
Hello, Do you ship in Europe? Best Regatds, Sasa
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Richo Cech –
Hello Sasa, Thanks for connecting. Sorry to say plants are available in the USA only. All the best, Richo
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Question
James –
How old are the goldenseal roots? If I order now in November, when I be receiving them at north carolina?
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Richo Cech –
Hi James, Thanks for wanting these, a real favorite of our’s. Goldenseal live roots are not order-able right now but you can hit waitlist. We ship these September into November. We aim to give a mature root that will produce a full-size plant the following year or two. We aren’t cookie-cutter propagators–the age of the roots is going to vary. A more relevant choice would be goldenseal potted plant which will be enabled this year for shipment in spring. There, again, hit waitlist. Richo
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Amy Kincer (verified owner) –
I planted a single root last fall, it emerged recently and just as predicted it’s already flowered. Hopefully this plant likes Michigan. Thank you.
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Angie –
Would this plant do well in Miami, Florida?
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Richo Cech –
Hello Angie,
Thanks for contacting. No, goldenseal needs a significantly long cold winter in order to become established. Please read the “Goldenseal” Chapter in “Growing At-Risk.” richo
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Question
lucasfbrunoiii –
Waitlist?
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Richo Cech –
hi lucas, hit the dropdown menu and choose a quantity–the waitlist will then pop up. We won’t be shipping goldenseal bare roots again until next September. Check out the goldenseal potted plants–they are very nice this year–they will ship early spring. richo
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Question
Laura Scott –
Hi Richo. In the product description you mention mineral soil: Rake away existing mulch and plant root in the mineral soil, just below the surface, buds up, buds barely covered by mineral soil.
What is mineral soil?
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Richo Cech –
the mineral soil is the soil underneath the loose mulch in the forest.
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Question
Maddy –
Hello,I am a beginner gardener and very much want to grow goldenseal. I live in Atlanta Ga. My land is shaded so I can provide dapple light. I have
compost . I would like to grow it in a large pot . Would it be possible to have a detailed recipe for the best soil to grow it in?
Thank you
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Richo Cech –
50% compost, 30% peat, 20% sand.
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Question
Meta –
Vangoldenseal root be shipped to Canada?
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Richo Cech –
hello meta, we can ship live roots and plants inside the USA only. richo
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Question
Shelli –
Hi! My Goldenseal came up! Yeah! But not thriving , maybe too much west sun? Planted on north west side of house in kitchen garden. Does it need total shade?
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Richo Cech –
yes, if goldenseal looks yellow of leaf or brown around edges, it is getting too much sun. one fix for this is to side-dress with organic compost and water daily until it starts looking good. Another option, given that this is a perennial plant and clearly has some life force, allow it to grow where it is this year and then move it to dappled shade, shade garden or woodlands, in the fall. goldenseal really doesn’t withstand full sun at any time of the day. r
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janakei1081367 (verified owner) –
I planted the roots as soon as they came and they are growing beautifully in the shade of a large crape myrtle.
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Question
Karmy Mueller –
I live in SW Montana, zone 5. All my trees are ponderosa pines and firs along with native bushes. It is a dry, alpine area at 4600 feet. Should I bother to try to plant goldenseal in the forested area? Or try to grow it in a container?
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Richo Cech –
hi karmy, goldenseal won’t do well there, but you can substitute with oregon grape, another berberine containing plant. it is native to your area. r
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Kat –
Hi there, do you ship to Australia?
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Richo Cech –
hi kat, wish we could! due to agricultural regulations, we ship live plants and roots only within the USA. r
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Question
Debi –
Is like to get on your waiting list for the goldenseal roots. Thank you.
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Richo Cech –
hi debi, to get the witlist on this item, go to goldenseal roots and choose a quantity in the dropdown and then the waitlist button will appear. delivery starts september. we’re currently taking orders on goldenseal plants r
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Colleen Donovan (verified owner) –
Hi. Do you still have goldenseal plants to sell? I have a small garden of them and would like to add more. For some reason, your roots are always sold out before I get to ordering them- I’m happy to buy some of those as well when the time comes.
Thank you, Colleen
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Richo Cech –
Hi Colleen,
Thanks for contacting. Live roots are available from September to December only, which is when they are planted. Goldenseal plants are currently available and they are lovely this year. Check our youtube channel for goldenseal planting info https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kmkXUAASmE
cheers, richo
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Question
Sarah –
Do the just-planted roots need shade during the winter? I will have to create artificial shade until my trees grow, but I’d prefer to wait until spring to do that. High winds, snow, and all that. If in an arid climate, how long between snow falls necessitates watering?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Sarah, I can understand why you would want to build shade in the spring instead of now. If it was me, though, I’d plant each root to a gallon pot, mulch well and put in a sheltered, shady place outdoors (like next to a building on the north side). But if you want to plant them in situ in a sunny spot now, then make sure they are well-mulched and water if the surface becomes dry. Goldenseal is really a spring ephemeral–start thinking about providing shade in March. Richo
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Richo Cech –
Hi Sarah, I can understand why you would want to build shade in the spring instead of now. If it was me, though, I’d plant each root to a gallon pot, mulch well and put in a sheltered, shady place outdoors (like next to a building on the north side). But if you want to plant them in situ in a sunny spot now, then make sure they are well-mulched and water if the surface becomes dry. Goldenseal is really a spring ephemeral–start thinking about providing shade in March. Richo
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Noor –
Tell me complete process of purchasing!!
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Richo Cech –
hello noor. ok, available to the usa only. click on the goldenseal root, use the dropdown to choose 1’s or 6’s, enter a quantity, put the item in your shopping cart and pay with paypal or a credit card. We will be sending the roots out in October. r
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Jane –
I live out on the cape and would like to try growing this in my abutting woodlands. The soils is Sandy with lots of scrub pines and oaks. Would these do well here or should I stick with potted? Thanks so much!
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Richo Cech –
Pine woodlands not the best choice for goldenseal–it does do well as a potted plant, though. r
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Angela Christensen –
Can roots be planted in the springtime? I’m in zone 6 and planning to plant under a large apricot tree.
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Richo Cech –
Hi Angela,
Love the under-apricot-tree environment, closest thing to nirvana I’ve ever experienced. It is best not to transplant roots in the spring and we don’t sell them in the spring–they are fall planted and work best that way. You can get potted plants from us now and plant them upon receipt. Richo
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Question
Tomi –
If growing in Monterey County, CA how might Goldenseal fair? I believe we are in zone 11-ish. We are a coastal community so we get lots of fog, partial sun. Our weather is closer to Oregon weather. We rarely get real hot temps. The air is pretty moist here most of the year.
We have pine, oak and silver dollar eucalyptus. The oak and eucalyptus are in the area I would be planting. We have ferns and bleeding hearts that grow in that area, too. The soil is very rich looking, and sandy.
Would it be worth planting?
Thank you in advance for you reply.
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Richo Cech –
Hi Tomi, I think its not the best choice because Goldenseal requires a cold dormancy that you don’t have in a Z 11. I’d be leaning toward Yerba manso (Anemopsis californica), which has similar antiseptic properties. Richo
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Erika Browder –
Hello, I resided in Phoenix Arizona and would like to know can I plant the goldenseal in a partial shaded area.
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Richo Cech –
Hi Erika, I can relate to your wish to grow goldenseal in Phoenix yet I really do think the air there is too dry, the plant would suffer regardless of positioning. richo
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abiggermess (verified owner) –
I planted Goldseal last year. It was on my patio for the entire year and did good last year.
Not sure if the greenery coming up is Goldenseal or not for this year. I love in Southern Oregon.
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Richo Cech –
I’m in southern oregon, too, and our goldenseal hasn’t broken surface yet, either. richo
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Liz (verified owner) –
I purchased 6 roots last year, planted in New Hampshire late fall. All of them popped up by beginning of May! I planted 4 in a woodland garden, 2 at the base of oak trees, 1 in a sandy spot under the edge of deck… I guess the pack came with 7! Excited to watch them grow.
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ecantu –
How about goldenseal in Comal County, Texas?
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Richo Cech –
hi! I think it would be better to grow yerba mansa, the plant does some of the same things and would be happier in texas. richo
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Tami –
Live in Michigan but would like to plant in pot inside. Any tips on how to do so? Also, in order to use root, do you have to use entire root or will digging up and harvesting a partial root kill plant?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Tami,
Goldenseal is hardy to Michigan and can be planted in a large, shallow pot with sandy loam for potting soil and a deep mulch of hydrated coir, peat or decomposed hardwood leaves. When the root gets very large, after 3 years, you can depot it and make root divisions, using some for medicinal purposes and replanting the rest. This should be done in the autumn after the plant senesces. Richo
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Howconnie –
I live in Los Angeles and have grown this plant for years. Because of our short days it can take full sun and won’t do well in shade. It naturalizes well. Grow it with your conifers or ferns. You have to start it in rainy season so it gets a strong root system before the drought.
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blick002 (verified owner) –
I potted up six very healthy live roots in the fall 2017, kept them in the root cellar over winter and planted them outside under maples after they sprouted and were healthy and vigorous plants the next summer, 2018. All overwintered in zone 3 with record-setting -48F low temp and two plants flowered and set seed this past summer, 2019. Very impressed and pleased!
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Erin Fitz –
Hello! About how many buds are present per root?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hi Erin,
We confirm one or more large buds per rhizome and as you probably know the rhizome is rimmed by multiple nascent buds that take over if there is damage to the main.
Richo
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Question
Cheryl (verified owner) –
I bought golden seal I think from you a couple years ago. We moved from the coast to Medford and they haven’t come up yet. I can see the “nubs in the ground but nothing else
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Admin Richo Cech –
Forest roots transplants: First they sleep, then they creep, then they leap. Sounds like your’s are either sleeping or creeping.
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jefflin breuer –
Hi! I want to buy some golden seal and grow it in a big tub, I unfortunately do not have a yard or woods to plant it in, but I would love to give it go. Should I plant in sandy soil with lots of leaf mold?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hello Jefflin,
Thanks for getting in touch. Yes, basically what you are saying will work. For years I grew goldenseal in deep flats under the benches in my greenhouse and some of the rhizomes exceeded a pound apiece at harvest. Please read my blog at this link https://blog.strictlymedicinalseeds.com/a-deeper-look-at-forest-roots/
Richo
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Chelsey –
Hi there, I’m in zone 6a, I have a spot in my garden under a big oak that gets morning sun – until almost noon in summer – and shade the rest of the day. Is that too much light for goldenseal?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hi Chelsea, Yes, the plant needs dappled shade all day long, not half a day of full light, and Oak is one of the least supportive overstories to goldenseal–better other hardwoods like maple, ash and alder. You can grow great goldenseal under the benches in the greenhouse…
Richo
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Melanie (verified owner) –
Planted all our goldenseal roots last weekend and look forward to seeing growth next year. Followed all of Richo advice and said prayers over them, now the waiting begins.
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