Bloodroot
Cultivation
PROJECT
LEADER(S): Jeanine M. Davis
LOCATION: Mountain
Horticultural Crops Research Station, Fletcher and Mountain Research Station,
Waynesville.
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IMPACT Currently there are at least 25 bloodroot growers
in western |
INTRODUCTION: Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is a native medicinal plant
that grows in eastern hardwood forests. It is wild harvested for use in
production of several new products. To
help conserve native populations and provide a new economic opportunity for
forest land owners, research on a commercial cultivation system is being
developed. Studies are being conducted at several wooded locations in western
METHODS:
Propagation:
This study was established in the fall of
2001 to determine what part of the rhizome can be used for propagation and how
long it must be grown to reach an economically feasible size for harvest. The
experiment is duplicated in the woods and under a polypropylene shade cloth
structure. Propagule
treatments were either small whole rhizomes, rhizome pieces with buds, or
rhizome pieces without any obvious buds.
The plots will be harvested after 2, 4, and 6 years of growth.
Companion
Planting:
In
this study, established in the fall of 2002, we are examining the influence of
companion plants on growth and yield of bloodroot. Bloodroot is being grown in forest beds
either alone, with mayapple, or with goldenseal. This study will be harvested after 1, 3, and
5 years of growth.
Tillage
Systems:
In
this study, established in the fall of 2002, the response of bloodroot growth
and yield to
various tillage systems is being examined.
Bloodroot was planted in two locations in the woods in raised beds, strip-tilled
plots, or no-till plots. These plots
will be dug after 1, 3, and 5 years of growth.
Results:
Propagation:
The first harvest, after two years of
growth, took place in fall of 2003.
Rhizome/root growth was much greater under artificial shade than in a
natural wooded setting; 4 to 30 times greater, depending on the treatment. In both fields, the absence of a bud on the propagule slowed rhizome/root growth considerably. The rhizomes were not ready for commercial
harvest after two years.
In 2004, under the artificial shade
structure, 67% of the plots had 90% or more emergence. These were evenly distributed among the three
treatments. In the woods, survival was
much less. Only 13% of the plots had at
least 90% survival and 25% of the plots had no plants growing at all. There were no differences among treatments.
Companion Planting:
The
first harvest took place in fall of 2003.
All treatments exhibited a reduction in rhizome/root weight after just
one year of growth. The greatest
decrease was observed in the bloodroot with black cohosh
treatment. The smallest decrease
occurred in the bloodroot alone treatment.
In
2004, there was no root harvest so all data were collected on growth of above
ground plant parts. One hundred percent
emergence occurred only in the plots where bloodroot was grown with black cohosh, goldenseal, or mayapple. Five of the eight bloodroot alone plots had
no plant emergence at all.
Tillage Systems:
The
first harvest was in 2003. After one
year of growth there were no differences observed in growth or root yield.
In
2004, at Waynesville, the highest number of plots with 90%
emergence or more were strip-tilled.
The two plots with no bloodroot emergence were both bedded plots. In contrast, at Fletcher, the bedded plots
were the ones that most frequently had emergence of 90% or more, but there were
11 plots with no bloodroot emergence and they were evenly split among the three
treatments.
Conclusions:
These studies will not be completed for several more
years. However, at this time we are
suggesting that growers consider growing bloodroot with a companion plant, such
as black cohosh; consider growing in raised beds or a
strip-till system; and consider growing under artificial shade.
TABLES & PHOTOS
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Close-up of a bloodroot test plot in Waynesville. |
Beverly Whitehead is a spokesperson for the Smoky Mountain Native
Plants Association |
