Cultivation: Loamy soil with large amount of humus and good drainage are ideal for cultivation of Rauwolfia. The PH of the soil should be acidic and around 4. The temperature range for cultivation is 100C to 380C. Rainfall should be in the range of 250 to 500 cm. It can be propagated by various methods, such as by seeds, roots, cutting, root stumps etc. The healthy seeds are sown into nursery beds. The rate of germination of seed is very low, hence sufficient quality of the seeds be sown. Sowing is done in the month of May or at break of mansoon. The seedlings are transplanted in the month of August at distance of 16 to 30 cm. the plants are kept free from weed. The plants are fertilised with various chemical fertilizer and manure.
Collection: Rauwolfia roots are harvested during autumn from 3-4 years old plants, as it consist of higher proportion of alkaloids during winter, when shrub is about 1 m in height with white or rose coloured flowers and purplish black fruits and plants are about 3-4 years, the roots which penetrate deeply are cut, washed properly so as to remove earthy matter and dried in air and packed in air tight container. Care is taken to keep the root bark intact as the bark has higher alkaloidal content.