Sanguinaria spp.

bloodroot

Papaveraceae Eastern North America

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 3–8

Overview

Sanguinaria spp. is a monotypic genus in the poppy family (Papaveraceae) consisting of the single species Sanguinaria canadensis, native to eastern North America. It is a low spring-flowering woodland perennial 6-10 inches (15-25 cm) tall, spreading 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) by a thick branching rhizome that exudes red-orange sap when cut. Each growth point produces one rounded, deeply lobed grey-green leaf 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) wide that wraps the emerging flower bud. The flower opens before the leaf expands, a solitary white bloom 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) across with 8-12 narrow petals around a cluster of yellow stamens. Double-flowered forms hold their petals longer. Flowering lasts only a few days per bloom, and the petals drop quickly in wind or heat. The leaf enlarges after flowering and persists into summer, then yellows and dies back, leaving the plant dormant by late summer in dry sites. The red sap contains alkaloids that are toxic if eaten and can irritate skin.

Native Range

Native to eastern North America, from Nova Scotia and Quebec west to Manitoba and south to Florida and Texas. It grows in rich, moist deciduous woodland, on wooded slopes, and along streambanks in dappled shade and humus-rich soil.

Suggested Uses

Grown in shade and woodland gardens, native-plant borders, and under deciduous trees and shrubs, spaced 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) apart. It naturalizes into ground-covering colonies in moist, humus-rich shade. The early flowers combine with other spring woodland plants such as Trillium spp., Mertensia spp., and ferns, though the foliage disappears by late summer.

How to Identify

Identified in early spring by a single white poppy-like flower 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) across with 8-12 narrow petals and yellow stamens, opening as one rounded, lobed grey-green leaf unfurls around the stem. Cut rhizomes and stems bleed a red-orange sap. The wrapped solitary leaf, white flower, and red sap make Sanguinaria canadensis hard to confuse with other spring woodland plants.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 10"

Width/Spread6" - 1'

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~2 weeks

Spring

Flowers open in early spring, roughly March to April, as the leaves emerge, and individual blooms last only 1-3 days. The whole flowering period for a colony spans about 1-2 weeks. Cold weather lengthens the bloom, while warmth or wind shortens it; petals drop soon after pollination.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Requires 2-5 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in part to full shade in moist, humus-rich, well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil with a pH from 5.5 to 7.0. Steady moisture in spring supports growth and a longer leaf season; dry soil causes early dormancy by midsummer. A loose mulch of leaf litter keeps the rhizomes cool and moist and mimics the woodland floor. The plant spreads slowly into colonies and is left undisturbed once placed. All parts, especially the rhizome and its red sap, contain alkaloids that are toxic if ingested and can irritate skin. Few pests trouble it, though slugs may graze the young leaves.

Pruning

No pruning is needed. Spent flowers fall on their own, and the leaves are left to die back naturally in summer so the rhizome can store energy. Self-sown seedlings can be lifted in spring if the colony spreads beyond its space.