Habitat: Damp woods, thickets and the banks of streams
Description: Named for the color of its inner bark and roots; native to the Atlantic coastal regions of New Jersey, Virginia and inland to Kentucky; a tall groundcover (3') good for banks or slopes, it spreads by underground rhizomes; tolerant of dry as well as heavy soils; flowers early before leaves appear, a not particularly showy racemose panicle or drooping cluster of brownish purple flowers; lustrous green foliage turning yellow, bronze or red in fall.
Uses: It contains the alkaloid berberine, which has a number of traditional and contemporary uses for dyeing and medicine.4
IMPORTANT NOTE:Plant Uses are for informational purposes only. EEB Greenhouses assume no responsibility for adverse effects from the use of any plants referred to on this site. Always seek advice from a professional before using any plant medicinally.
W/C = Wild Collected = indicates flowering in past 14 days
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