Goldenseal
Hydrastis canadensis
Medicinal Plants Difficulty: Moderate
📖 About this plant
Goldenseal is a threatened native American medicinal plant whose bright yellow rhizome contains powerful antimicrobial alkaloids like berberine. Traditionally used as a natural antibiotic, it supports mucous membrane health and immune function.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
☀️
Light
Partial to full shade (2-4 hrs)
💧
Water
Every 2-3 days
💨
Humidity
Moderate to high (50-70%)
🌡️
Temperature
10-24°C
🪴
Soil
Rich, loamy forest soil with high organic matter; well-drained, partial to full shade; pH 5.5-6.5
🧪
Fertilizer
Minimal — relies on naturally rich woodland soil; aged leaf compost as mulch
🌐 Common Names
HI
Hindi
गोल्डनसील
BN
Bengali
গোল্ডেনসিল
MR
Marathi
गोल्डनसील
TE
Telugu
గోల్డెన్సీల్
TA
Tamil
கோல்டன்சீல்
GU
Gujarati
ગોલ્ડનસીલ
UR
Urdu
گولڈنسیل
KN
Kannada
ಗೋಲ್ಡೆನ್ಸೀಲ್
OR
Odia
ଗୋଲ୍ଡେନସିଲ
ML
Malayalam
ഗോൾഡൻസീൽ
PA
Punjabi
ਗੋਲਡਨਸੀਲ
AS
Assamese
গোল্ডেনসিল
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Eastern North America (Appalachian region)
- 📏 Max height
- 15-45 cm
- 📐 Spread
- 15-30 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Late Spring
- 🎨 Bloom color
- White, Green
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Slow
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic at therapeutic doses; avoid during pregnancy; may interact with medications
- 🌱 Propagation
- Root division of rhizomes in autumn or early spring; seed requires stratification
🛡️ Health & Safety
🐾 Pet safe
✅ Non-toxic
Non-toxic at therapeutic doses; avoid during pregnancy; may interact with medications
Common issues
- Root rot from overwatering
- Slugs on leaves
- Leaf spot fungi
- Verticillium wilt
💡 Care tips
- Root contains berberine with natural antibiotic properties
- Requires rich woodland-type soil with plenty of organic matter
- Threatened in the wild so buy from cultivated sources only
- Takes 4-5 years to produce harvestable roots
🪴 Add to My Plants
One click — added instantly. Watering every 3 days, fertilizing every 30 days.
