Bloodroot – Sanguinaria canadensis
Found in these areas: Oak-Hickory Trail, Wildflower Garden
One of the harbingers of spring at the Arboretum is Bloodroot, a member of the Poppy family. It blooms in early to mid-March in the wildflower garden adjacent to the Visitors Center. It appears somewhat later along the Oak-Hickory Trail and elsewhere at the Arboretum. When it emerges, the distinctive leaves are clasping the flower stalk, but shortly after emergence, they gradually open up. Typically Bloodroot flowers have 8-12 petals with the upper ones often being somewhat larger than the lower ones – some of the plants in our wildflower garden, however, have almost twice as many petals. The common name Bloodroot is based on the red-orange sap that oozes from the underground rhizome and other parts of the plant when cut. Although the plant has been used for medicinal purposes, the alkaloids in the extracts can be toxic if ingested.
