Goldthread
Coptis trifolia
Goldthread is a tiny evergreen groundcover of cool bogs and conifer woods, with glossy three-parted leaves, small white starry flowers, and bright gold underground runners. The whole plant has been used as food and, mixed with sassafras root bark, brewed into a style of root beer; some caution is advised, as with other members of its family.
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Type
- wildflower
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 0.2–0.5 ft
- Spacing
- 0.5–1 ft apart
- Light
- shade
- Soil moisture
- moist
- Soil pH
- acidic
- Bloom
- April, May, June, July
- Bloom colors
- white
- Wildlife value
- pollinators
- Landscape uses
- groundcover, container, erosion control, naturalizing
- Native states
- AK, CT, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, VT, WA, WI, WV