Sanguinaria canadensis, Bloodroot

One of the first wildflowers to awaken the forest floor, Bloodroot unfurls its silvery-green leaf to reveal a pure white bloom with a golden heart. Emerging in early spring, it brightens shaded woodlands and moist, humusy soils before slipping quietly into summer dormancy. Each flower lasts only a day or two, opening to sunlight and closing again by dusk—a fleeting beauty marking the season’s return.
This native perennial spreads gently over time, forming soft colonies beneath trees and along streambanks. Its name comes from the reddish sap within its roots, once used as a natural dye. Graceful and enduring, Bloodroot brings a touch of woodland wonder to shaded gardens, where it naturalizes easily and asks for little in return.