American Ipecac

American Ipecac

Gillenia stipulata

Plant Type
Forb (Deciduous)
Landscape Layer
Herbaceous
Sun
☀️ Full Sun, ⛅ Part Sun, ☁️ Shade
Moisture
🏜️ Dry, 💧 Regular
Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand, Rocky / Acidic
Bloom
May, June

Ecology & Conservation

Proximity Score
2
Native Status
❌ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ❌ QC ❌ ON
Closest Direction
SW
CEC Eco-Regions
8 – Eastern Temperate Forests, 8.2 – Central USA Plains, 8.2.4 – Eastern Corn Belt Plains
Rarity Notes
Globally secure (G5) and nationally secure in the United States (N5). Not ranked in Ontario or Quebec as the species is not native to either province. Not listed under SARA.

S22S26

Migration
Stable
Ecological Context
Inhabits dry to mesic upland woods, thickets, and rocky slopes in the central and southeastern United States. Herbarium specimens indicate habitats including bluffs, woodland edges, open oak woods, and dry wooded slopes. A forb/subshrub of the forest understory and edge, typically found on well-drained soils.

S29S48S46

Permaculture & Companion Planting

Roles
Pollinator Attractor

S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Pollinator Attractor: S73 [MEDIUM]: S68 10 bee associations (threshold=3)]

Medicinal Properties

Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.

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Category
Cathartic, Diaphoretic, Emetic, Expectorant, Odontalgic, Tonic

S29

Notes
The dried powdered root bark has been used as a cathartic, mild emetic, expectorant, and tonic. Minute doses were used internally for colds, chronic diarrhoea, constipation, asthma, and bronchial complaints. Roots used externally for rheumatism, and a cold infusion applied to bee stings and swellings. Roots harvested in autumn, bark removed and dried.

S29

Edibility & Foraging

Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.

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❌ Not Edible   

Seed Source

  • Ferri Seeds
American Ipecac