This monotypic genus is a short rhizomatous shrub that occurs mostly in the southern Appalachians and Piedmont, but it is disjunct at other localities in southeastern states and it has escaped from cultivation in northeastern states. In Ky. (HARD), Tenn. and Miss., there are a few sites west of the Appalachians on sandy soils. The species appears to be highly unpalatable to beavers (e.g. Rossell et al. 2013), presumably due to benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (including berberine) and other compounds (Jensen 1995). There has much traditional use of Xanthorhiza for a yellow dye and for medicinal purposes (Colenbaugh & Hagan 2021). The common name "yellowroot" has often also been applied to Hydrastis (or "goldenseal"),, which has similar chemistry.