The first time I saw Sanguinaria growing, it was in the fall. The large, lobed leaves were growing against a maple tree in the forest of Bruce's Mills outside Metroplitan Toronto. And what a sight for sore eyes they were! Just the leaves alone were enough to send me spiralling into a desire to know more about this plant. I asked a park naturalist it's name and the following spring bought seeds for it from the Friends of the Garden at U.B.C.
It took 3 years for my seeds to do much at all, partly because my seeds were not very fresh. If allowed to dry, the percentage of germination will be low. In the meantime I had time to discover more about these intriguing plants.
The name Sanguinaria comes from the latin, Sanguin, meaning blood. The sap of this plant is a bright orange red, and is well-known among Canadian eastern First Nations as an excellent dye material and medicinal plant for gingivitis, warts, and other problems. The plant is also toxic and should be taken only under the council of a registered naturopath or homeopathist.
It has very stout rhizome roots, which often stick up above the ground, revelaing their rich-red brown hues when the leaves are gone.
It is in the Poppy family (Papaveraceae), making it, I beleive, the first in it's family to bloom each year.
Growing Bloodroot
Bloodroot grows best in a sheltered woodland with bright sun in the early spring and shade when the leaves come out on the hardwood trees. They like growing in very leafy, moist soil, or on the rotted logs of the trees around it. They prefer soil acidity between 5.0 and 6.5, so never apply lime, and ensure a low pH by adding soil acidifiers, available in both synthetic and organic forms at garden centres.
Appearance
The flowers have 8 to 16 petals, white but sometimes tinged pink, and while they are absolutely gorgeous, they don't last long. Mine, grown in the shade of western red cedar trees bloom for only 1 week. The petals soon fall away and up come the beautiful leaves, which last through to fall, when they turn shades of yellow and wither.
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