Yellowroot
Xanthorhiza simplicissima
Pickup currently unavailable at Aiken Nursery
John Bartram collected Xanthorhiza simplicissima from the Carolina mountains sometime before 1776 and brought it back to his famous Philadelphia garden, which tells you two things: that yellowroot has been in cultivation for as long as this country has existed, and that people who know plants have always recognized something worth paying attention to here. The Cherokee had already known it for considerably longer. They used the roots — sliced open to reveal a vivid, almost electric chrome yellow — as a dye, a bitter tonic, and a medicine for ailments ranging from mouth sores to stomach complaints. The active compound is berberine, the same antimicrobial alkaloid found in goldenseal, and the roots produce it in striking quantity. Xanthorhiza is Greek for yellow root. The name is not a metaphor.
What Bartram brought into cultivation, and what the Cherokee had long understood, is that this plant is a great deal more than it first appears. It is technically a shrub — a single-genus family within the Ranunculaceae, the buttercup clan, which comes as a mild surprise to anyone who encounters those parsley-like compound leaves for the first time. In early spring, before the foliage has fully extended, it produces drooping panicles of tiny purplish-brown flowers with yellow centers — not showy from a distance, but worth crouching down for. The foliage that follows is its summer character: bright, finely textured, fern-like in effect, forming a dense low canopy that suppresses weeds and holds its composure through the heat. Then autumn comes, and yellowroot does something most people weren't prepared for — the foliage moves through a full spectrum of maroon, scarlet, orange, and gold, a fall display that looks borrowed from a much showier plant.
It spreads steadily by underground rhizome, tolerates shade that defeats most flowering shrubs, handles wet soils and — once established — reasonable drought. Four centuries of cultivation behind it, a Bartram connection, a living ethnobotanical record, and fall color worth photographing. The argument makes itself.
Photos courtesy of Julie Makin and Alan Cressler
- Hardiness
- USDA Zones 3–9
- Sun
- Part Shade, Full Shade
- Soil
- Well-drained, Moist
- Mature size
- Height 2–3 Feet · Spread 2–3 Feet
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Seasonality
- Deciduous
References & research
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is shared for traditional and educational interest only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional before any medicinal use.
- Pregnancy and Lactation: Berberine can cross the placenta and is present in breast milk; it has been associated with jaundice and kernicterus in neonates.
- Dosage: There is no standardized dosing; however, traditional use involved teas and tinctures.
- Potential Contaminants: Cases of toxicity have been reported due to contaminants like arsenic in improperly prepared yellowroot products.
From rooting to shipping, our top priority is ensuring you receive healthy, thriving plants for your garden’s success.
Because most of our plants are grown from rooted cuttings — alongside seed, air layering, and grafting chosen for each variety — you receive a stronger, true-to-type plant that establishes quickly in your garden.
Raised on organic soil blends and eco-friendly pest management — never harsh chemicals — your plant arrives healthy for your garden, your family, and the pollinators they feed.
Every purchase gives back. We donate to the Aiken Arboretum and support local wildlife conservation, so growing your garden helps protect the wider ecosystem too.
All our plant material is carefully propagated, grown, and nurtured at our humble nursery in Aiken, South Carolina.
Your plant arrives carefully packed and ready to settle in. Unpack them promptly, give them a day or two to acclimate, then plant following the notes we include — that’s all it takes. Clear care guidance comes with every order, so success is the easy part.
What to expect upon delivery
All our plants are sold in 1-gallon sizes, though the height of each plant can vary depending on its growth rate and seasonality, typically ranging from 1/2 to 2.5 feet.
Each plant is carefully packaged with its roots enclosed in a secure plastic bag containing moist soil, forming a compact root ball. To ensure safe transport, the box is padded with recycled newspaper, providing both stability and eco-friendly protection from weather during shipping.
What is your return policy?
Review our full return policy information on our SHIPPING AND RETURNS POLICY page.
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Can I make changes to my order after it’s been placed?
At Woodlanders, we strive to fulfill orders as quickly as possible. Therefore, we can only accommodate changes to your order within the first 24 hours after it has been placed. These changes include adding or removing products and modifying the delivery address. If you need to make any changes or if there has been a mistake with your order information, please reach out to us promptly via our CONTACT page with your order number for the quickest resolution.
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