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Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

Bloodroot | William O'Brien State Park, MN| View Enlarged Image

One of the first woodland flowers to appear in early Spring, Bloodroot blooms can usually be found in late March, often before the first buds appear on trees. Blooming early is a major advantage for low-growing spring flowers; they can soak up sunlight while most other plants remain dormant. To absorb sunlight more efficiently, the Bloodroot's blooms are light-sensitive. They will only fully open on sunny days, remaining closed during chilly spring nights and cloudy days to preserve heat.

This species is sometimes confused with Rue or Wood Anemone, which bloom around the same time. The easiest ways to tell the two apart are the many-lobed leaves and the long, thin petals on the Bloodroot that form an upward-facing cup when half-closed.

Unlike other spring flowers, Bloodroot blooms do not produce any nectar. Its yellow stamen "trick" insects into pollinating them, and the petals fall off its capsule-shaped seed pod almost immediately afterward (see flower in the photo on our left).

So what's up with the name? Bloodroot got both its common and scientific name for the juice its stem "bleeds" when squeezed. This juice was used by many cultures as a medicine and blood purifier, and was at one time used in the 18 and 1900's to treat a variety of conditions, including coughs and skin cancer †. Its medicinal effects are still being studied today. It must be noted, of course, that Bloodroot has toxic properties that earned it the common name "snakebite".

Many Native American tribes, including the Ponca, used Bloodroot as a love charm. Placing a leaf in their hand, men would shake hands with the woman they intended to marry. Though many people today may not believe in its powers of attraction, Bloodroot is an easy plant to grow in native gardens. It thrives in shade and damp soil, and provides a shot of color after a long winter. Its seeds can be obtained through many popular botanical catalogs.

Multimedia:

Bloodroot | William O'Brien State Park, MN|

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