Hydrastis canadensis

Description

Goldenseal is an endangered woodland species growing from a yellow rootstock, which have been used extensively by the Indigenous people in medicinal/dye purpose; the colonizers have quickly adopted the usage of the goldenseal, unfortunately, because this lead to extensive over harvesting of plants from the wild habitat and soon the species became rare or has been extirpated from some areas.

Its maple-like leaves, resemble those of Glaucidium (its ‘cousin’ species) and the white, petalless flowers, resemble those of Trautvettaria. The fruits have a ‘strawberry’ appearance and mature somewhere in mid to late summer, depending on the region.

I propose to everyone to start growing this species, not for its medicinal properties, but in order to offer refuge and sanctuary in your garden: propagation means conservation!
It is a beautiful woodland plant which, if grown well, it will start flowering in the third year from seeds.

Germination: seeds must be sown fresh (or kept moist packed seeds) and allowed to experience the natural variations in temp. from late summer-winter- to spring, just like it would happen in the wild habitat.  They can be sown right away and the pots kept outdoors to undergo the natural variations in tempeeratures or, a preferred method especially for small quantities of seeds: place them in larger Ziploc bag with moist vermiculite for the warm/cold cycle and sow them in pots in early spring after they start to germinate.
Please read here and follow:  how to grow Hydrastis canadensis from seeds step-by-step.