Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T06:58:03.090Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Cultivating the increasingly popular medicinal plant, goldenseal: Review and update

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Adrianne Sinclair  and
Paul M. Catling
Adrianne Sinclair
Affiliation:
Biology Student, Biology Department, University of Ottawa, Ontario KIN 6N5, Canada;
Paul M. Catling*
Affiliation:
Research Scientist, Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Research Branch, Wm. Saunders Building, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C6, Canada.
*
Corresponding author is P.M. Catling ([email protected]).
Get access

Abstract

Interest in the cultivation of goldenseal is increasing and this may have benefits for agriculture, human health, and conservation. To enable a better understanding of growing conditions, cultivation methods reported in the literature were reviewed, 21 natural goldenseal populations in the northern portion of its natural range in North America were described and analyzed in terms of population size and health, and 15 successful growers were interviewed on requirements for optimal cultivation. Growing conditions in the wild were compared to those reported in the cultivation literature. Summary of data from natural populations suggests goldenseal grows best in mixed hardwood forests, under 60–65% shade, in moist sandy loam soils high in organic matter, with pH 5.7 to 6.3. Similarly, review of the literature suggests that goldenseal grows best in moist, well-drained loams high in organic matter, with pH 5.5 to 6.5. Reported shade requirements vary but 47–80% shade is considered optimal. Growing conditions reported by growers were also consistent with the cultivation literature and similar to conditions of wild populations. Although optimal growing conditions are similar to those for many crops, goldenseal is relatively robust and can grow well in a variety of conditions including wet, predominantly sandy or clay soils with pH as low as 4.8 and as high as 7.8. Cultivation can utilize a ginseng crop infrastructure and goldenseal has been recommended as a rotation crop for ginseng. Commercial production of goldenseal is potentially advantageous because (1) it is an environmentally friendly crop; (2) it has been grown successfully far outside its natural range, is easy to grow, and is considered potentially profitable; and (3) it is relatively inexpensive, having low energy, land area, and fertilization requirements. Development of a sustainable crop may contribute to the protection of native wild germplasm, which can provide valuable material for crop improvement.

Keywords

ginsengnatural resource conservationplant ecologypropagationsoil characteristicssustainable agriculturewild germplasm
Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 16 , Issue 3 , September 2001 , pp. 131 - 140
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Adam, K. 2000. Ginseng, goldenseal, and other native roots. Hort. Tech. Note. Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, Fayetteville, AR. Web site http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/ginsgold.html (viewed January 2001).Google Scholar
2.Beyfuss, R.L. 1999. Growing ginseng and goldenseal in your forest. New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Division of Lands and Forests. Web site http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dlf/privland/forprot/ginseng/growing_guide.html (viewed January 2001).Google Scholar
3.Bryant, G. 1977. Ginseng and goldenseal. In Kelly, J. (ed.). Herb Collector's Manual and Marketing Guide: Ginseng Growers and Collectors Handbook. 5th ed.Wildcrafters, Looneyville, WV. p. 26–30.Google Scholar
4.Catling, P., and Sinclair, A.. 1998. The history of the golden seal. Recovery: An Endangered Species Newsl. (Spring): 12. Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa, Ontario. Web site http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/es/recovery/spring98/eng/9801seal.html (verified April 2001).Google Scholar
5.Cech, R. 1995. Forest Roots (Cultivation of the Medicinal Roots: Black Cohosh, Ginseng, Goldenseal and Wild Yam). Horizon Herbs, Williams, OR.Google Scholar
6.Cech, R. 2000. Horizon Herbs Strictly Medicinal Growing Guide and Catalog (Fall). Horizon Herbs, Williams, OR.Google Scholar
7.CITES. 2000. CITES-listed Species Database: Flora. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Geneva, Switzerland. Web site http://www.cites.org/ (viewed January 2001).Google Scholar
8.Davis, J.M. 1996a. Advances in goldenseal cultivation. Hort. Info. Leaflet 131. North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, Raleigh.Google Scholar
9.Davis, J.M. 1996b. Cultivation of native woodland botanicals. Medicines from the Earth, Protocols for Botanical Healing. 1996 Official Proceedings of the Gaia Herb Conference, Black Mountain, NC. p. 35–39.Google Scholar
10.Davis, J.M. 1998. Goldenseal. Transcripts from the Second Annual Richters Commercial Herb Growing Conference, October 25–26, 1997. Richters, Goodwood, Ontario, p. 133–143.Google Scholar
11.Davis, J.M. 1999a. Commercial goldenseal cultivation. Hort. Info. Leaflet 131. Rev. ed. North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, Raleigh. Web site http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-131.html (viewed January 2001).Google Scholar
12.Davis, J.M. 1999b. Goldenseal and ginseng production. Proc. 4th Annual Herb Business Getaway Conference, January 28–31, Palm Coast, Florida. Herb Growing and Marketing Network, Silver Spring, PA. p. 75–80.Google Scholar
13.Davis, J.M. 1999c. Forest production of goldenseal. Agroforestry Note 16. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, National Agroforestry Center, Lincoln, NE. Web site http://www.unl.edu/nac/afnotes/ff-5/ff-5.pdf (verified April 2001).Google Scholar
14.Davis, J.M. 2000a. Home page. North Carolina State University, Dept. of Horticultural Science, Fletcher, NC. Web site http://fletcher.ces.state.nc.us/staff/jmdavis/home.html (verified April 2001).Google Scholar
15.Davis, J.M. 2000b. Sources of goldenseal seeds, plants or roots. Hort. Info. Leaflet 123. Revised March. North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, Raleigh. Web site http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-123.html (viewed January 2001).Google Scholar
16.Davis, J.M., and Bir, R.E.. 1998. Medicinal plants with a potential niche market for propagators. Combined Proc. International Plant Propagators' Society 1997, 47:39–41. Seattle, WA.Google Scholar
17.Environment Canada. 1999. CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Information Notes. Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa, Ontario. Web site http://www.cws-scf.ecgc.ca/cites/note1_e.html (viewed January 2001).Google Scholar
18.Foster, S. 1991. Goldenseal: Hydrastis canadensis. Botanical Series 309. American Botanical Council, Austin, TX.Google Scholar
19.Foster, S. 2000. Goldenseal, Hydrastis canadensis: Goldenseal's future. Steven Foster Group, Fayetteville, AR. Web site http://www.herbphoto.com/education/monograph/goldenseal.html (viewed January 2001).Google Scholar
20.Haage, L.J., and Ballard, L.J.. 1989. A Grower's Guide to Goldenseal. Nature's Cathedral, Norway, IA.Google Scholar
21.Hardacre, J. V. 1977. Cultural hints on ginseng and goldenseal. In Kelly, J. (ed.). Herb Collector's Manual and Marketing Guide: Ginseng Growers and Collectors Handbook. 5th ed.Wildcrafters, Looneyville, WV. p. 22–25.Google Scholar
22.Hardacre, J.V., Henderson, G., Collins, F.B., Andersen, E.L., Harris, V.M., Fewster, B., Beck, R., Bowman, D., and Donzelot, E.L.. 1962. The Wildcrafters Goldenseal Manual. Wildcrafters Publications, Rockville, IN.Google Scholar
23.IUCN. 1997. Inclusion of Goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis in Appendix II (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), U.S.A. April. International Union on the Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland.Google Scholar
24.Kelly, J. (ed.). 1977. Herb Collector's Manual and Marketing Guide: Ginseng Growers and Collectors Handbook. 5th ed.Wildcrafters, Looneyville, WV.Google Scholar
25.Konsler, T.R. 1987. Woodland production of ginseng and goldenseal. Station Bull. 518:175–178. Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station, West Lafayette, IN.Google Scholar
26.Li, T.S.C., and Oliver, A.. 1995. Specialty crops infosheet: Goldenseal. British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Victoria.Google Scholar
27.Lloyd, J.U. 1912. The cultivation of hydrastis. J. Amer. Pharmaceut. Assoc. 1:5–12.Google Scholar
28.Maskewich, L. 2000. Medicinal, culinary and aromatic crops: Goldenseal. March. Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Edmonton. Web site http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/crops/special/goldenseal.html (viewed January 2001).Google Scholar
29.McGuffin, M. 1999. Having our goldenseal, and growing it too. United Plant Savers Newsl. (Summer). Web site http://www.plantsavers.org/newsletter/summer1999/gs.html (viewed May 2000).Google Scholar
30.McLellan, T., and Felton, K.. 1998. Goldenseal—Plant in peril? Wild Notes WN3-98 (Ver. 2). U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Morgantown, WV. Website http://www.fs.fed.us/na/morgantown/fhp/wildlife/gseal.htm (viewed January 2001).Google Scholar
31.McNeill, H., Renaud, E., and Blakley, T.. 2000. Summary of goldenseal research projects for 1998 and 1999. National Center for the Preservation of Medicinal Herbs, Rutland, OH. Web site http://www.ncpmh.org/GoldenSeal.html (viewed January 2001).Google Scholar
32.Merwin, M. 2000. Medicinal herb crops can earn extra income for forest farmers. Temperate Agroforester 8(2): 1, 8–9.Google Scholar
33.Montford, S., and Small, E.. 1999a. Measuring harm and benefit: The biodiversity friendliness of Cannabis sativa: Preliminary criteria for comparing biodiversity friendliness of crops make for first step towards including ecological impacts in analysis of what crops to grow. Global Biodiversity 8(4):2–13.Google Scholar
34.Montford, S., and Small, E.. 1999b. A comparison of the biodiversity friendliness of crops with special reference to hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). J. Intern. Hemp Assoc. 6(2):53–63.Google Scholar
35.OMAFRA. 1988. Soil Testing Methods Approved for Use in Ontario. Ontario Soil Management Committee. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ottawa.Google Scholar
36.OMAFRA. 2000. Nursery and landscape plant production recommendations. Publ. 383. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ottawa.Google Scholar
37.Reeleder, R.D. 2000. Goldenseal: Hydrastis canadensis. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Southern Crop Protection and Food Research Centre, London, Ontario. Web site http://res2.agr.ca/london/pmrc/english/study/newcrops/goldseal.html (viewed January 2001).Google Scholar
38.Robbins, C. 1996. Goldenseal—A candidate for CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Appendix II? TRAFFIC USA 15:5–6. World Wildlife Fund; World Conservation Union.Google Scholar
39.Sievers, A.F. 1949. Goldenseal under cultivation. USDA Farmer's Bull. 613. Rev. ed. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
40.Sinclair, A., and Catling, P.M.. 2000a. Status of goldenseal, Hydrastis canadensis (Ranunculaceae), in Canada. Canadian Field-Naturalist 114:111–120.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
41.Sinclair, A., and Catling, P.M.. 2000b. Ontario goldenseal, Hydrastis canadensis, populations in relation to habitat size, paths, and woodland edges. Canadian Field-Naturalist 114:381–384.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
42.Sinclair, A., Catling, P.M., and Dumouchel, L.. 2000. Notes on the pollination and dispersal of goldenseal, Hydrastis canadensis L., in southwestern Ontario. Canadian Field-Naturalist 114:499–501.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
43.Small, E., and Catling, P.M.. 1999. Canadian Medicinal Crops. National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.Google Scholar
44.USFWS. 1997. Amendment to Appendix II of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), U.S.A.—Proposal to Include Hydrastis canadensis in Appendix II, in Accordance with Article 2, Paragraph 2A. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
45.Van Fleet, W. 1914. Goldenseal under cultivation. USDA Farmers' Bull. 613. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
46.Veninga, L., and Zaricor, B.R.. 1976. Goldenseal/Etc: A Pharmacognosy of Wild Herbs. Ruka Publications, Santa Cruz, CA.Google Scholar
47.White, D.J. 1991. Status Report on the Golden Seal, Hydrastis canadensis, in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.Google Scholar