Roseroot
Rhodiola atropurpurea

Family: Crassulaceae

What it is like

A succulent herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has a fleshy taproot. Annual stems grow from along the root. The roots smell faintly of rose. The leaves are green and fleshy and without leaf stalks. They are narrowly oval or sword shaped. They narrow to the tip and have shallow teeth along the edge. The leaves are crowded along the stems. The leaves turn dark red in autumn. The flowers are in a dome shaped cluster at the top of the stem. The flowers are dark purple. Flowers are separately male and female. The fruit develop in clusters and dry off.

Where it is found

It is a cold temperate plant. It can grow in silty soil and moist locations. It can tolerate salty conditions.

Countries/locations it is found in

Alaska, North America, Russia, Siberia, USA

How it is used for food

The leaves or top of the plant is used to make a tea like drink. They are also eaten. The boiled roots are eaten.

It is a popular food.

Edible parts

Leaves, roots, stems

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Cuqlamcaraat, Nunivak

Synonyms

Rhodiola rosea subsp. atropurpurea (Turcz.) Jacobsen; Sedum atropurpureum Turcz.; Sedum rosea subsp. integrifolium (Raf.) Hulten; Tolmachevia atropurpurea (R. Turcz.) A. Love & D. Love;