In the icy heights of the Siberian Altai Mountains and the countries of Scandinavia, known for their long and dark winters, the Rhodiola rosea thrives. It is a plant species of the genus Rhodiola from the family Crassulaceae and is also called rose root because of its characteristic rose-like smell. Rose root reaches growth heights of usually 5 to 20cm, rarely up to 35cm, and forms several above-ground stems that are thick, fleshy and glabrous. The petals of the female plant are yellow and turn red-orange as they fade, while the flowers of the male plant glow purple.
Not only to the cold and darkness, the rhodiola is extremely resistant because – as a succulent plant – the rhodiola is able to store water and can therefore thrive well even in dry locations. Rose root is therefore an extremely hardy plant, able to withstand the most adverse conditions. Due to its many valuable phytochemicals, including the phenylpropanoid rosavin as well as the phenylethanoid salidroside, preparations of rose root have been used in Siberian and Russian traditions. In Siberia, rose root is therefore also called "golden root."
