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Resources < Wildlife Habitats < Guide to Native Plants of Georgia for Wildlife < Xanthorhiza simplicissima
In the wild, yellowroot is
most frequently found in streamside environments, where it thrives
in the moist, cool alluvial soil and spreads quickly, forming dense
thickets. In the garden, yellowroot makes a great ground cover for
those damp, dark spots where nothing else seems to want to grow. Its
serrated compound foliage is somewhat reminiscent of astilbe, and
though it looks lovely on its own, it’s even more lovely in
combination with hostas and ferns.
Yellowroot gets its name from
its long, bright yellow root, which is a common ingredient in folk
remedies. Historically, yellowroot has been used to treat everything
from ring worm and dysentery to diabetes and high blood pressure.
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)
Low-growing deciduous shrub with 5 to 6" pinnately compound leaves
clustered at the summit of a short, unbranched stem. Each leaf is
divided into 3 to 5 toothed leaflets. 2 to 4" clusters of small,
purplish brown, star-shaped flowers appear in spring. Tan, dry seed
follicles are available in fall. Fall leaf color is yellow, bronze,
and orange.
1 to 2’ high.
Small, erect,
flat-topped shrub; tends to sucker and form dense colonies.
Medium.
Shade to part
shade.
Transplant in spring or fall into moist, well-drained, acid soils.
Plants prefer sandy alluvial soils but will also perform well in
heavy soils.
Assets include interesting toothed foliage, purple-brown flowers in
spring, and a low-growing, wide-spreading habit.
Plant as a groundcover in shady,
moist areas.
Leaves provide cover for small
mammals and amphibians. Seeds are eaten by small mammals and birds.
Found
in the Piedmont, mountains, and Coastal Plain, usually in rich, damp
woods along stream banks.
Division, root cuttings, June
shoot cuttings.
Text and photo by Leslie Kimel, Georgia Wildlife Federation
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Yellowroot
