woodland wildflower

Bloodroot

Sanguinaria canadensis

Also known as Canada Puccoon, Bloodwort, Redroot, Red Puccoon, Black Paste, Indian Paint

Native to much of the USA and southern Canada

Eastern Quebec to Manitoba, south to Florida, Alabama and Texas

Light Part shade to shade Sun tolerance
Moisture Moist to wet Moisture preference
Zones 3–9 Cold to heat range
Bloom Mar–Apr Flowering time
Height up to 2 ft to 0.6 m
Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial

Full details, see below

In the garden

A woodland wildflower for part to full shade and consistently moist to wet soil. At up to 2 ft, it suits shade gardens and woodland edges. Hardy in USDA zones 3–9.

Growing conditions

Light

Full sun Partial shade Full shade

Moisture

Dry Moist Wet

Hardiness zones

Find your zone:

Pollinators & wildlife

Bees Common Eastern Bumble Bee

also Western Honey Bee, Two-spotted Bumble Bee, Tricolored Bumble Bee +25 more
Pure Green Sweat bee, Colletes inaequalis, Golden Sweat Bee, Confusing Furrow Bee, Spurred Ceratina, Blue Orchard Bee, Horn-faced Mason Bee, Carlin's Mining Bee, Taurus Mason Bee, Bristle Sweat Bee, Deep-blue Sweat Bee, Cherry Mining Bee, Cresson's Sweat Bee, Spot-fronted Wool-carder Bee, Fox's Sweat Bee, Nomada affabilis, Dilated-horned Small-Mason, Pseudopanurgus labrosiformis, Denticulate Nomad, Osmia lignaria lignaria, Dunning's Miner, Nason's Mining Bee, Trout-lily Mining Bee, Xylocopa virginica virginica, Zephyr Sweat Bee
Flower flies Margined Calligrapher

also Eastern Calligrapher, Oblique Streaktail, Long-tailed Aphideater +6 more
Narrow-headed Marsh Fly, Greater Bee Fly, Variable Duskyface Fly, Tufted Globetail, Eastern Catkin Fly, Toxomeris marginatus
Beetles Spotted Pink Lady Beetle also Two-lined Leatherwing, Slender Flower Longhorn Beetle, Mordellistena comata
Also visited by
- Wasps: Fraternal Potter Wasp
- Moths: Tersa Sphinx
- Butterflies: Northern Azure

Full plant details

Where it grows

Habitat: WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
Native range: Much of the USA and southern CanadaUnited States (38): AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV. Canada (5): MB, NB, NS, ON, QC. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
Native distribution: Eastern Quebec to Manitoba, south to Florida, Alabama and TexasThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.

Growing conditions

Light: Part shade to shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
Moisture: Moist to wetThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
Hardiness zones: USDA 3–9 · Canadian 3–7The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
Soil: Moist to mesic, well-drained, humus-rich soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
Soil texture: Light to medium (sandy to loamy)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
Soil pH: Mildly acid to mildly alkalineThe acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).

Growth & form

Height: up to 2 ft (to 0.6 m)Typical mature height.
Spread: ~1 ft (0.3 m)How wide one plant gets, a guide to spacing.
Life cycle: PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
Growth rate: SlowA relative ranking versus other plants of the same type (USDA), not an absolute rate.

Flowers, foliage & fruit

Type: WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
Bloom: Mar–AprWhen it flowers.
Flower color: WhiteThe bloom color, or colors.
Fruit/Seeds: CapsuleThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
Toxicity: Poisonous if eatenWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.