Colic-root is a native herbaceous perennial n in the Narthecium family (Nartheciaceae0 native to the Eastern and central United States from Ontario Canada south to FL and west to MI and TX. It is found primarily in moist peaty, sandy or gravelly areas of the coastal areas and lakes. The common name refers to the root once being used to treat colic. The plant will grow up to 2.5 feet tall and prefers full sun to partial shade in moist to wet soils. Well-drained sandy or rocky soils are best. It prefers to grow uncrowded but will tolerate drier woodland and grassland habitats. The flowers of colic-root are formed on a 6-18' spike-like raceme along the upper half of the stalk. Individual flowers are under 1/2" long and tubular with 6 white tepals with moderately curved tips. Leaves form a low rosette at the base of the stem. The plant is not generally found for sale and should be enjoyed in its native habitat. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Texture
Coarse
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Rosulate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Oblanceolate; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
2 to 7 in., pale yellow-green leaves are lance-shaped and parallel-veined in a rosette at the base of the stem with a few alternate leaves on the stem
Flower color
White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme; Spike
Flower shape
Urn
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
A spike-like raceme cluster of small, urn-shaped, six-tepaled white flowers with orange stamens. It has a rough, swollen base and hugs the nearly leafless flower stalk. Fowers have a distinctive warty mealy appearance. Blooms from April to June.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Fruit displays from July to August in the form of a small ovoid capsule. Each capsule contains numerous seeds that are scattered by the wide once the capsule splits open.
Stem color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Stem detail
The lower half of the stalk is pale green to yellow-green and pubescent.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southeastern Canada and central and eastern U.S.A.
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , WI , WV Canada: ON
Wildlife value
This plant attracts pollinators.
Attracts
Pollinators
Play value
Attracts Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Uses (ethnobotany)
The root has been used to make a tonic used as an aid to digestion and a sedative, hence the common name Colic-Root