—Wild-sarsaparilla grows in rich, moist woods from Newfoundland west to Manitoba and south to North Carolina and Missouri. Description. —This plant produces a single, long-stalked leaf and flowering stalk from a very short stem.

Where can I find a sarsaparilla plant?

This shrubby member of the ginseng family (Araliaceae) is found across the northeastern portion of North America, from Saskatchewan to Newfoundland and south to Minnesota, Indiana, Virginia, and North Carolina.

Where is wild sarsaparilla found?

It can grow in full shade and semi-shaded areas. The range of this plant includes Alberta east to Newfoundland, south to Georgia, and northwest to Nebraska and North Dakota. There are also populations of this plant in the northwestern US and British Columbia.

Can you grow sarsaparilla?

Sarsaparilla can be grown from seed sown when ripe, but seedlings mature slowly. Seed Collection: Seeds can be recovered fro the fruit by maceration and flotation.

Does sarsaparilla grow in Canada?

Wild sarsaparilla is very common in shaded mixed woods, in rich soil with lots of decaying plant material. It is found across Canada from coast to coast, and as far north in Manitoba as Reindeer Lake.

Is sarsaparilla banned?

Well, sassafras and sarsaparilla both contain safrole, a compound recently banned by the FDA due to its carcinogenic effects. Safrole was found to contribute to liver cancer in rats when given in high doses, and thus it and sassafras or sarsaparilla-containing products were banned.

Why is sarsaparilla bad for you?

Asthma: Exposure to sarsaparilla root dust can cause runny nose and the symptoms of asthma. Kidney disease: Sarsaparilla might make kidney disease worse. Avoid sarsaparilla if you have kidney problems.

Is wild sarsaparilla invasive?

wild sarsaparilla: Aralia nudicaulis (Apiales: Araliaceae): Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. Aralia nudicaulis L.

Is sarsaparilla and sassafras the same thing?

The main difference between Sassafras and Sarsaparilla is that Sassafras is a flavoring spice extracted from the root bark used in root beers, while Sarsaparilla is the vine itself that is used solely for the extraction of Sarsaparilla root. As a result, they’re vastly different from each other in many ways.

How long does it take to grow sarsaparilla?

Cultivation/Planting: It requires moist soil that is well drained. Propagation Seed: seeds are best sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 3 – 5 months of cold stratification. Germination usually takes place within 1 – 4 months.

How do you plant sarsaparilla?

Propagating from Seed

1. Cold-stratify seeds for 90 to 150 days if they are gathered in fall.
2. Choose a planting site that offers dappled shade.
3. Provide well-drained soil.
4. Rake existing leaf debris away from the planting site.
5. Plant seeds in rows or broadcast in the loosened soil, water lightly and pat soil down gently.

Does sarsaparilla grow in Texas?

Texas Native Plants Database. You can find sarsaparilla vine growing in the open sandy woods of East Texas, ranging eastward into Florida and South Carolina. Sarsaparilla vine ripens shiny red or orange berries in the spring.

What is a sarsaparilla tree look like?

Sassafras is a group of deciduous trees with unusually lobed leaves, clusters of golden-yellow flowers, and dark blue berry-like drupes. Sassafras trees are also highly aromatic trees. In fall, when the foliage turns spectacular orange, scarlet, yellow, and purple colors, the leaves give off a strong fragrance.

What does wild sarsaparilla smell like?

The Society It has purple-black berries. Wild sarsaparilla flowers look similar to those of wild leek, but wild leek flowers smell like onions, and the plants have no leaves at the time of flowering. Wild sarsaparilla has blue berries, which ripen in mid-summer.

Why is root beer called sarsaparilla?

Sarsaparilla and Root Beer were founded by the Native Americans before arriving in Europe. Both beverages are named after their distinct differences in ingredients when they were first made. Sarsaparilla was made from the Sarsaparilla vine, while Root Beer, roots of the sassafras tree.