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Rick’s Native Plant of the Month | Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis
April 12, 2021
By Rick Bogusch
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Bridge Gardens
We are always looking to add new native plants to our gardens. A good option is bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis. This native perennial can be found throughout eastern North America. It needs shade or partial shade, is a natural for woodland gardens and shaded rock gardens, and is tolerant of drought. A member of the poppy family, bloodroot blooms in April with starry white flowers. Large, pale blue-green leaves unfold, only to disappear by the end of June as the plant goes dormant. Bloodroot has a history of use as a medicinal, and its red-orange sap was used as a fabric dye by Native Americans, so it’s a good candidate for the herb garden.
