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Rhodiola

Is wild rhodiola protected?

Yes. The entire genus Rhodiola was listed in CITES Appendix II in 2022, and root harvest destroys the slow-growing plant.

Rhodiola rosea roots and rhizome beside the living plant
Harvesting the root removes the whole plant.

The short answer

At the 2022 CITES conference, parties adopted a proposal from China, the EU, Ukraine, the UK and the United States to place all Rhodiola species under Appendix II trade controls, because wild collection of the root has caused population declines and processed roots of different species cannot be told apart. Raw and bulk root now require permits in international trade. This library does not publish collection guidance for rhodiola; cultivated, traceable material is the responsible source, and the rare southern Appalachian population should never be disturbed.

Sources

  1. CoP19 Proposal 45: inclusion of Rhodiola spp. in Appendix IICITES Secretariat
  2. CoP19 Species Outcomes TableU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service