WashingtonGardener: Bloodroot Plant Profile

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Bloodroot Plant Profile

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is a perennial plant that is native to the eastern half of North America.It is also known as Redroot, Bloodwort, Canada Puccoon, Red Puccoon, Black Paste, and Indian Paint. The common names derive from the fact that Native Americans used the red juice from the roots and stems of the plant as a dye and insect repellent.

It has a short-lived, white flowers in early spring and the foliage is lobed and stays in a short mound.

It is hardy to USDA zones 3 to 8. It is a member of the Poppy family.

Bloodroot prefers to grow in part- to full-shade in well-drained, humus-rich soils.

The seeds of the plant are dispersed by ants. The plant can also spread and form a nice groundcover under trees.

This woodland plant is a spring ephemeral – meaning that it will go dormant and disappear by mid-summer, similar to cyclamen. It is best to move or divide it just before its summer dormancy.

Bloodroot is pollinated by native bees.

It is deer-resistant due to toxic alkaloids in the leaves and roots.

Bloodroot: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Video, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Additional Video and Editing by Aicha Bangoura

Supplemental photos from Wiki Commons

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