The purple-black berries that follow the flowers were used historically for food and beverages. Indigenous people sometimes made a sweetened drink from them.
The roots were highly valued in traditional medicine as a respiratory tonic, often brewed into teas or syrups for coughs and lung ailments.
American Spikenard forms large, impressive clumps over time and can live for decades in the right conditions.
Belongs to the Araliaceae family, the same as American Ginseng, which explains its historical use in herbal medicine.
The purple-black berries that follow the flowers were used historically for food and beverages. Indigenous people sometimes made a sweetened drink from them.
The roots were highly valued in traditional medicine as a respiratory tonic, often brewed into teas or syrups for coughs and lung ailments.
American Spikenard forms large, impressive clumps over time and can live for decades in the right conditions.
Belongs to the Araliaceae family, the same as American Ginseng, which explains its historical use in herbal medicine.
Bloom: summer
Habitats: rich woods
Lifespan: perennial
Moisture: wet to moist
Plant type (height): forb (3 to 7 feet)
Requirements: partial sun to moderate shade
Soil: fertile
