Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

Here at Pretty Wild, we can't get enough bloodroot. It's the first flower to bloom every year and is one of the most distinctive plants in our spring woodlands. Each bloom rises from the soil wrapped tightly inside a single, oversized leaf, the leaf fully clasping the flower stalk like a protective sheath. As the flower opens, that leaf slowly unfurls and expands, becoming the plant’s most defining feature. The leaves are surprisingly large, rounded, and deeply lobed, with soft, scalloped edges and a slightly bluish-green cast. They add a very unique, almost pre-historic look to a woodland garden. Unlike other spring ephemerals, when planted in spots with decent moisture Bloodroot foliage often persists well into summer rather than disappearing quickly, continuing to photosynthesize and anchor the space long after flowering.

Bloodroot blooms are something we look so forward to in the cold, dark days of winter and are a beautiful signal that the season has turned. We've been growing it for 7 years and it never stops feeling special. 

Native to Wisconsin woodlands, Bloodroot thrives in rich, deciduous soils where it can take advantage of early spring sun and dappled shade later in the season. Over time, it spreads gently by rhizomes, forming small, long-lived colonies that return reliably year after year.

Growing Conditions

Light: Part shade to full shade (spring sun, summer shade)
Soil: Rich, humusy, well-drained woodland soil
Height: 6–10 inches
Spread: Slowly spreading colonies
Zones: 3–8
Bloom time: March through April

Wildlife Value

Bloodroot is an important early-season nectar source for native bees that emerge in late winter and early spring. Its seeds are dispersed by ants (a process called myrmecochory), making it a key player in healthy woodland ecosystems.

Blooms Alongside

Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica), Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium reptans),Wild Strawberries (Fragaria virginiana)

For more information, please check out our sizes, pricing and ordering page.