Wholesale Stone root

01.
A Bit of Botany

a little botanical information on stone root

description
Collinsonia canadensis is a perennial herb of the Lamiaceae, or mint, family.

Stone root's stem is four-sided and is often very smooth (though sometimes is slightly pubescent) and grows three to four feet high. Its thin leaves are few in number, three to four inches long and two to three inches broad. The coarsely serrate leaves are acuminate, abrupt or subcordate at base, and may have a pungent lemon scent.

The plant's large often lemon-scented flowers are in loose, compound racemes; with a corolla half an inch or more in length. The corolla is yellow tinged with green, and its elongated lower lip is fringed. The very hard, dusky brown root of this herb is knotty and rough. It grows many slender fibers, that when fresh are of a somewhat unpleasant balsamic odor.

common names & nomenclature
Stone root was discovered by (and named for) Peter Collinson (1693–1768). Peter Collinson was an English merchant botanist, whose interest was in cultivating new American plants and transporting them to England.

Also known as:
stone root, horse balm, knob weed, knot root, hard back, hardhack, ox balm, richweed, heal-all

02.
Where in the World

habitat and range for stone root

Collinsonia canadensis is native to eastern North America from Quebec south to Florida and as far west as Missouri, although it is mainly found east of the Mississippi River.

03.
Cultivation & Harvesting

considerations on growing and harvesting stone root

climate
Found growing in rich and moist woods and fields in dappled shade.

soil
Stone root prefers a sandy peat in a moist location but it is easily grown in ordinary garden soils so long as it is not permitted to dry out.

growing
Sow seeds as soon as they are ripe in a cold frame. The seed can also be sown in the spring, though it might be slower to germinate. Transplant out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame. Plant them out in spring or early summer of their second year.

harvesting
Harvest roots in the fall, dry for later use.

preserving
Store dried cut and sifted stone root and powdered stone root in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.

04.
The Rest of the Story

additional information