Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Hydrastis canadensis

Yellow Root · Goldenseal · Orangeroot

Family RanunculaceaeGenus Hydrastis

A single fluffy white flower above two broad, lobed and toothed leaves, among dry leaf litter
FlowerMiranda KohoutCC0
A color plate of a palmate-leaved plant with a white flower, a red berry head, a knotted rhizome and dissections
IllustrationFranz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-PflanzenPublic domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous Perennial, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
0.8-1 ft25-30 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
0.8-1 ft25-30 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Insignificant, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
3-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Deep shade; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic MatterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

Protocol

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    1 germinated in this phase.

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    1 germinated in this phase.

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  6. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 15 months from start to step 6. Germination happens during step 6, in 12 days.

6% germination in 8–12 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Hydrastis p. 154Public domain
Show the original text
Hydrastis (Ranunculaceae). H. canadensis germ. 40-70(1%)-40-70(1%)- 40-70(6% in 8-12 d) and none in six cycles staling at 70. Seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40 all rotted. The seedlings from the last germination opened their cotyledons, but did not appear to be vigorous. After the 2 y of alternating cycles the samples were placed outdoors on January 1, and 3-10% germ. the following April. Outdoor experiments need to be conducted on fresh seed.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Hydrastis p. 154. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

Add to My Garden

View species page