General Culture:

Easily grown in average, medium moisture soil in full sun to part shade. Slowly spreads by thick rhizomes.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

Spikenard is a shrubby-looking, soft-stemmed, Missouri native herbaceous perennial which occurs on wooded slopes, ledges and ravines in the Ozark region and in rich, moist woods of the northeast region of the State. Features smooth, branching stems typically growing 3-5' tall (less frequently to 6') and compound foliage (9-21 coarse, heart-shaped, toothed leaflets). Tiny white flowers in numerous small umbels arranged in long, terminal panicles appear in early summer. Flowers are followed by inedible, dark purple berries. Thick roots are spicy-aromatic and have been used to flavor teas and root beer.