Specimen record
Bloodroot
Sanguinaria canadensis
Conservation note
Collect sparingly — populations can be slow to recover. Take only from large, vigorous colonies.
Description
One of the earliest spring ephemerals, bloodroot sends up a single white flower wrapped in a lobed basal leaf from a thick orange-red rhizome. The flower is extremely short-lived, often lasting only one to two days. The plant gets its name from the bright orange-red sap in its roots and stems, which was used as dye by Indigenous peoples.
Identification tips
- 1Single white flower with 8–12 petals and a golden center of stamens
- 2Flower wrapped by a single deeply lobed, blue-green basal leaf at emergence
- 3Broken stems and roots exude bright orange-red sap
- 4Flowers open only in sunshine and close at night
- 5Leaf expands to 15–25 cm wide after flowering ends
Specimen & preservation notes
Collect entire plant including rhizome to show the diagnostic red sap. Press flower immediately — petals drop within hours of picking. Place petals face-down on paper and arrange the lobed leaf flat. Photograph the fresh sap color as it darkens to brown when dried.
Habitats
Collection calendar
| Wk | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov |
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Collection notes
Season check
Guide window matches observed bloom.
Flowering records: 753 iNaturalist observations, Massachusetts · Nearby: 306 observations within 25 km