Goldenseal is an excellent crop to follow ginseng since a second crop of ginseng usually cannot be grown economically on the same land. Goldenseal plants emerge in early spring from buds on perennial rootstocks. Flowering occurs in late April or May, and red fruits develop in July or August. The fruit resembles a large red raspberry and contains 10 to 25 seed. The plant dies slowly after the fruits ripen.
Goldenseal is propagated by seed, rhizome divisions, or rootlet cuttings.
Collected fruits should be mashed lightly and fermented in water for several days to facilitate separating the pulp from the seed. Most of the mulch should be removed in spring before the seedlings emerge. The seedlings will not effectively come up through the mulch and will be choked out if the mulch is not removed. Transplant the rootstocks to permanent beds when the tops die down. Many rootlets without buds and treated in this same manner will often produce plants.