Sanguinaria canadensis (Bloodroot)

Plant Info
Also known as:
Genus:Sanguinaria
Family:Papaveraceae (Poppy)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:native
Habitat:part shade, shade; woods
Bloom season:March - May
Plant height:6 to 12 inches
Wetland Indicator Status:GP: UPL MW: FACU NCNE: FACU
MN county distribution (click map to enlarge):Minnesota county distribution map
National distribution (click map to enlarge):National distribution map

Pick an image for a larger view. See the glossary for icon descriptions.

Detailed Information

Flower: Flower shape: 7+petals

[photo of flower] A single flower is at the end of a naked stem growing directly from the ground. Each flower typically has 8 to 10 white petals, but double flowers sometimes occur. The petals have many parallel veins and often 4 of the petals are longer than the others. In the center is a cluster of many golden yellow-tipped stamens. A flower blooms for only a day or two before dying.

Leaves and stem: Leaf attachment: basal Leaf type: lobed Leaf type: simple

[photo of mature leaf] Leaves are basal and lobed in 3 to 9 parts, generally round in outline, up to 5 inches long and wide with a deep indent at the base. The leaf edges are scalloped or have large rounded teeth. A leaf initially wraps around the flower stalk but opens up and reaches full size when the flower wilts, its stem elongating several inches. Leaf and flower stems both are round and smooth with a reddish tint.

Fruit: Fruit type: capsule/pod

[photo of fruit] Fruit is a spindle-shaped capsule about 1 inch long, containing 10 to 15 seeds.

Notes:

Bloodroot is one of the harbingers of spring, sometimes emerging while snow is still on the ground, and is a welcome sight after a long Minnesota winter. A red juice bleeds from broken stems, leaves and roots, and is where the common name originates.

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More photos

Photos by K. Chayka taken at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, Rice County, and Wild River State Park, Chisago County. Other photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk.

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Leslile - St Paul
on: 2009-05-22 11:29:22

Our backyard backs up to Battle Creek Park - My husband spotted 2 small but plentifully blooming spots in the park during walks and at the same time we found 6-10 volunteers growing just outside our bedroom window. A fascinating plant to watch - we are now getting the seed pods and will try to grow it. Certainly hope they come back next year.

Posted by: Fred - Le Sueur co
on: 2009-05-30 15:52:00

In a small woods on my property in Le Sueur County, there are several large patches of bloodroots that bloom each spring -- this year the first blossoms had appeared by April 17, according to my notes.

Posted by: Tara - Scott county, Savage
on: 2010-04-07 19:06:04

spotted in the back yard, hard to see because of the leaf cover, flower still closed. Tiny plant with pure white flowers and butter yellow stamens. One of the first few wildflowers to emerge to announce spring. I will have to watch it in the next few days to see the flower open.

Posted by: Pam - Stanchfield
on: 2010-05-05 02:48:25

All of our blooms were gone the last week in April.

Posted by: Kristi - Goodhue County
on: 2012-03-26 16:00:51

Bloodroot is already blooming. Saw it in the woods yesterday. A surprise for March.

Posted by: Mary - Rice Creek West Regional Trail
on: 2012-03-28 10:29:40

Many patches of blood root along the side of the trail. The leaves are still folded around the flower stem like they were hugging the flower. Very pretty.

Posted by: Sally - Ney Nature Center near Henderson, MN
on: 2012-04-01 17:11:07

Early this year! Very perky, and blooms are quite large.

Posted by: Jill - Yellow Medicine County along MN River
on: 2012-04-08 13:31:32

We have several patches growing in our yard. In addition, the ditches are full of these small, pretty flowers.

Posted by: Adam - Beaver island trails
on: 2012-04-14 17:53:15

Along the main path and the dirt path.

Posted by: connie - Tenstrike, mn
on: 2012-04-21 18:52:09

Found many patches of these flowers growing in the road dithes. The first time we've ever seen these.

Posted by: Vickie - Cosslake
on: 2012-04-24 20:54:50

finally after 2 years my transplanted ones bloomed...6 blossoms! so delicate and pretty.

Posted by: Carol - Otter Tail County
on: 2012-04-30 13:36:50

While looking for morel mushrooms in our woods, we have come across many of these beautiful little wildflowers this week! I wish we'd find as many mushrooms as there are these flowers!

Posted by: Janelle - Glendalough State Park
on: 2012-05-04 09:16:18

We found these growing in the woods in Glendalough State Park, (in Battle Lake Minnesota) on April 30th and May 1st.

Posted by: Gail - Eden Prairie
on: 2013-05-08 10:01:45

We have several small patches in our wooded, Eden Prairie back yard. I noticed the flowers on May 6.

Posted by: Suzi - Ogema Mn
on: 2013-05-24 12:05:04

We have these growing in our little woods next to the house. My mom would call them May floweres because they would always bloom in May.

Posted by: Pat - Minnetrista
on: 2013-06-29 19:28:27

Blood root has been growing in several spots on our property which has a small segment of woods. The trees are self seeded maple and elm which have all been removed now either from natural dying, dutch elm disease (we removed) or lightning which took our last tree which was about 100 feet tall and about 100-130 years old. I wasn't able to get back there this spring to see the blood root because of an injury but I have seen them every year for the 25 years we have been here.

Posted by: Kate - Carver
on: 2014-05-04 17:34:46

Spotted these flowers today for the first time. Ventured down the hill of our wooded conservation area behind our house. Sure sign of spring!

Posted by: Joe - Cannon Falls
on: 2014-05-05 10:47:53

I saw these along the Cannon Valley Trail on May 3, 2014.

Posted by: Susan - Duluth MN
on: 2014-05-18 18:38:04

Blooming in large patches along the Munger Trail today, near Jay Cooke State Park.

Posted by: John - Crosby Farm Park St. Paul
on: 2015-04-13 14:07:01

Beautiful colonies growing on the hillsides on the north side of the lake.

Posted by: Sara
on: 2015-04-14 18:19:07

Can you tell me if a flower I picked as a child in the Minnetonka, MN area that bloomed like a Bloodroot, but had white and light lavender blooms and a med. green leaf that we called "Mayflowers," is some kind of sub species of Bloodroot? I had many questions from Coloradoans when I mentioned "Mayflowers" to them. Any clarity will be appreciated! Thank you.

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2015-04-14 20:48:07

Sara, pretty much anything that blooms in May has been called a Mayflower by someone at sometime so it could be any number of species. I don't know what you mean by "bloomed like a bloodroot", but whatever it was you remember from your childhood is unrelated to bloodroot.

Posted by: Lynette - Glenwood Minnesota
on: 2015-04-17 11:55:28

Sara- I'll bet those were Hepatica- we called them the same thing and the flower color varied from white to lavender blues and purples.

Posted by: Curt - Byron
on: 2015-04-18 21:19:30

Quite a few of these at Oxbow Park.

Posted by: Judy - SE
on: 2016-04-14 08:42:58

week of 4/11/16 - our small patch of these is blooming and has spread uphill in our wildflower patch. Along with siberian squill, bloodroots are 1st sign of spring. I am an amatuer phenologist.

Posted by: Tia - Willow River MN/Northern Pine County
on: 2016-05-01 19:56:33

Bloodroot has been blooming for the past week on our 40 acres. There's like, a gazillion of them!

Posted by: Heather - Minnetonka
on: 2016-05-02 12:50:53

We've lived in our house for 40 years and let the back yard go wild about 25 years ago. We've transplanted Trillium from our cabin back there, but no other wild flowers, they have just appeared, but for the first time we have two Bloodroot ready to bloom...a wonderful surprise.

Posted by: Lola H. - Lake County
on: 2016-05-09 13:38:44

Found some in Lake County on May 8, 2016...Mother's Day. I didn't know what it was so I came to this website and there it was, the bloodroot.

Posted by: Nancy - Minneopa State Park
on: 2016-05-23 15:03:40

We were at Minneopa State Park (near Mankato) down by the bottom of the waterfall and I saw Bloodroot, with a bud not yet open. We also saw lots of old blossoms on wild ginger and the Jack-in-the-Pulpit were blooming (on their way out).

Posted by: Kris R - St. Michael - Wright County
on: 2017-04-18 12:38:54

Found a large patch coming up in a wet field adjacent to a wooded area near Beebe Lake.

Posted by: Pat - Washington county dog park
on: 2017-04-21 17:16:58

Lots of the bloodroot in the dog park back in the wooded area. Very pretty.

Posted by: Marcia B - Grove City
on: 2017-04-22 21:21:10

Two patches on the east side of Grove Lake blooming now. I have seen these blooming every spring for many years.

Posted by: Jessica - Byron
on: 2018-05-02 15:19:26

A few in-bloom bloodroot spotted here and there throughout the woods in Oxbow Park today, but no big patches. A number of blooms were still unopened--they are blooming late this year thanks to the extended winter! Nowhere near as prolific in Oxbow as the white trout lilies, dutchman's breeches, or even false rue anemone.

Posted by: Rebecca M - Hennepin Cty
on: 2018-05-03 20:48:57

There are several large patches of Sanguinaria Canadensis - Bloodroot on the MN River Bluffs trail 100 yards west of the Shady Oak Rd overpass about on the south slope of the trail. These patches have been established for years and are a delight to see. Given their short bloom time be quick if you'd like to see them.

Posted by: Samantha Capen Muldoon - Orono, Hennepin Co., MN
on: 2018-05-07 15:17:01

Several patches of Bloodroot spotted growing in the leafy undergrowth of the hillside woods in the dappled sunlight on the edge of Long Lake, Scilla interspersed. May 5-May 7, 2018

Posted by: M C Levitus - Minnetonka, Hennepin County, MN
on: 2018-05-11 11:34:01

First time catching the blooms in my perennial garden. I've seen the distinct leaf in years prior. I did not plant this in the garden. BEAUTIFUL! excited to id the plant using this site.

Posted by: Kathy F. - Buse Township, Otter Tail County
on: 2018-08-11 08:11:02

This is another plant appeared in the moist woods behind our lake cottage after the removal of buckthorn!

Posted by: BR - Interstate Park
on: 2019-05-01 10:26:12

Tons of bloodroot was out in buds, or just open, in Interstate Park last weekend.

Posted by: Hunter - 15 min. North of stillwater
on: 2019-05-01 13:45:41

Are these edible?

Posted by: Sue Klous - Minnetrista
on: 2019-05-04 11:18:50

Found in our Maple Forest woods.

Posted by: Elaine - Rum River/So Isanti Cty
on: 2019-05-05 20:07:30

Spotted a large patch yesterday. I had cleared a lot of invasives from there last fall. They are just a perfect flower

Posted by: Marilyn - south east of Northfield
on: 2019-05-06 12:08:34

Live in a wooded development and have some plants scattered throughout, on the edges of the woods.

Posted by: mike - Minnehaha Falls
on: 2019-05-18 14:32:15

A few pretty large patches on the path below the VA

Posted by: Kathy & Doug Wood - Stearns county north of Sartell in woods along the Zmissisdi
on: 2020-02-13 02:33:30

It is very prolific in our pine woods.

Posted by: TOM ROCK - Bde Maka Ska -- Minneapolis
on: 2020-04-10 15:24:04

They are just coming up in the wooded area between Bde Maka Ska and Lake Harriet. They are thick in the woods.

Posted by: Alexis Ludwig-Vogen - Mendota Heights
on: 2020-04-20 10:56:59

Removed quite a bit of buckthorn nearby and this wonder of a flower popped up! Located in oak/maple woods frequented by wild turkeys, near the edge of our property.

Posted by: Daniela Bell - William O'Brien State Park
on: 2020-04-20 11:32:58

At William O'Brien State Park, up-slope from Lake Alice, seen budding (with leaf still wrapped around flowering stem/petiole) on Friday 4/17/2020. I've never caught them so early! I was there to see Anemone americana (hepatica) of which there was lots

Posted by: Janice Opfinger - Spring Lake Regional Park, Prior Lake MN
on: 2020-04-21 11:25:58

Found blooming along the trail in Spring Lake Regional Park, smaller batches. A crisp, small bright beauty!

Posted by: Marty CormacK - Root River Park - Olmsted County
on: 2020-04-22 21:05:47

I spotted some Bloodroot just about to bloom this morning at Root River Park just south of Rochester.

Posted by: Eli - St Paul
on: 2020-04-25 21:26:45

Battle Creek Park in St Paul

Posted by: Jerry Wright - Glenwood- Barsness Park
on: 2020-04-28 16:30:52

Observed a single Bloodroot flower in a lowland forested area of Barsness park during a walk on Monday afternoon April 27th and then a very large patch of many Bloodroot flowers on a 45degree side hill facing south with many trees about the small creek in the park. Have some great pictures and I would be willing to share.

Posted by: Cheryl - Plymouth, MN
on: 2020-04-29 20:15:03

Just got back from a walk near French Park. These big leaves hiding a few shy flowers right along the path by West Medicine Lake Drive.

Posted by: Kathy Bruzer - Hillman, MN
on: 2020-05-01 10:55:20

On my daily walk along my mile long driveway. A nice surprise.

Posted by: Joe - Wild River State Park
on: 2020-05-04 21:20:13

We saw quite few scattered along the Arik Pond and River Trails at Wild River State Park today, 5/4/20.

Posted by: Bob Knighton - Duluth
on: 2020-05-13 13:48:12

5/12/2020 I checked a small patch of bloodroot in Hartley Park here in Duluth. Many leaves but only two flowers, many fewer than two years ago at the same time and place.

Posted by: Michael - Rochester
on: 2021-03-12 20:38:35

Our patch of backyard blood root has popped up and is about 1/4? tall with many other tips poking up.

Posted by: Allen C Fink - spring lake township, Jordan
on: 2021-04-05 21:53:16

6 plants were blooming on Easter. all 7 areas are blooming now on Easter Monday. Wow so pretty! pink & white.

Posted by: Eva McDonald - Austin
on: 2021-04-18 22:01:28

I spotted several of these along West Rim Trail at Beaver Creek Valley State park today. April, 18th.

Posted by: Rick A - Crow Wing County
on: 2021-05-01 08:14:35

Several of these popped up on the north side of my house, in the flowerbed. They are now everywhere, mostly spreading via underground shoots but also quite obviously by seed. I love them but may move some since they are crowding out some other flowers.

Posted by: Sarah - Shakopee
on: 2021-05-16 10:27:23

New home with a huge garden. These first popped up on April 6th of this year for us. Such a welcome sight after winter!

Posted by: Sherman in Duluth - In my yard in Duluth, MN and also on Stanford Ave
on: 2022-05-02 13:20:08

Around 1986, my backyard neighbor pointed out some plants at the edge of a very small patch of woods in my 1 acre yard. She mistakenly called them "Dog Tooth Violets" and they weren't blooming, and I forgot about them. A few years later In that location I saw Sanguinaria Canadensis in full bloom around April 20th. They were POSITIVELY Bloodroot. Since then I've also seen many while exploring the neighborhood woods. Last year on Stanford Ave out of sight, past the edge of a ravine at Chester Creek, there was a whole hillside covered with hundreds of blooming Bloodroot flowers.

Posted by: Marcia - Tamarack
on: 2022-05-09 17:25:27

This is the first time I've seen bloodroot in my yard. It's blooming in one of the hosta gardens and is so pretty!

Posted by: Valerie Alland - Ogema
on: 2022-05-10 16:13:24

Just found a patch of them on some ground that we had cleared some brush off of last fall. We live by Strawberry Lake in Becker county.

Posted by: Jill - Southwoods Nature Preserve N. St. Paul
on: 2023-04-15 15:13:42

There was on patch blooming on the trial to the left of the overlook. I was able to take pictures.

Posted by: Curtis - Savage, MN
on: 2023-04-30 14:37:35

These are just starting to bloom on April 30, 2023 at Murphy Hanrehan Park Reserve between marker 22 and the trailhead. I saw a big patch of them last summer and went back to catch them in bloom.

Posted by: Scott Slocum - White Bear Lake
on: 2023-05-03 16:44:24

Sara and Lynette, thanks for the reference to Hepatica. Google Lens could only find Twinleaf. Then, This website referred to this page, from which you referred to Hepatica, which seems to be what I'm looking at, out in the open-space.

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