Yellowroot is a native deciduous shrub of eastern North America that can be found in it native habitat from New York to West Virginia and south to Florida and Alabama. It is not typically available commercially, but in its natural habitat is found on edges of streams or damp woods in sandy soil under a canopy of dappled sunlight. In North Carolina, it is found in the mountains and Piedmont areas. It grows 1-3 feet tall and spreads by suckers. Flowers appear in spring in drooping panicles and fall color is yellow to reds. It will grow in well-drained moist sandy or clay loams in partial sun to shade. The best fall color occurs with some sun. Use this plant as a ground cover on banks of streams, woodland gardens and naturalized areas. Its common name, Yellowroot, comes from the roots of the plant, which are yellow. The roots and stems can be used in dye making. Stems have also been used in basket weaving. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Alkaline soils may lead to chlorosis. Under idyllic conditions, it may spread indefinitely by its suckers. However, planting within metal edging or having a concrete barrier such as a sidewalk can control its spread. Placing in full sun and insuring dry soil can also help to contain its spread.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
3 feet-6 feet; 6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Lobed; Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Alternate, compound pinnate leaves with 3 to 5 toothed leaflets that are glossy, green and up to 7 inches (ca. 18 cm) long. Margins are lobed and toothed. Fall color is yellow to reddish-purple.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Purple/Lavender
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small, insignificant, brownish purple star-shaped flowers with 5 sepals (no petals) on crowded 2-8 inch long terminal clusters from March to May
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Fruit type
Follicle
Fruit detail
The fruit is a star-shaped cluster of green follicles that dry to yellow. Displays from May to June.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray
Bark detail
Thin and smooth brownish-gray bark.
Stem color
Brown/Copper
Stem detail
Upright, unbranched and leggy.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern USA
Distribution
AL , CT , FL , GA , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MS , NC , NY , OH , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
Wildlife value
Provides understory habitat and food for upland game birds, songbirds, and small animals feed on the fruit.