Sanguinaria canadensis forma ‘multiplex’
Here in Central Massachusetts, we sometimes can find wild populations of Bloodroot in our woodlands, but it is more commonly found in the western and northern parts of our state. The single wild form of Sanguinaria canadensis is fine enough, briefly blooming in our gardens (sometimes blooms last only a day or two), but the rarer but not terribly difficult to find double form lasts a bit longer, and that’s a good enough reason to search it down.
Bloodroot will spread slowly, but steadily, so even though you may dish out $25.00 for a plant, in a couple of years you may have a cluster, and in a decade, a small colony. Even though the flowers bloom and die within a week, the foliage is interesting enough through the rest of the summer. The roots, do, in fact ‘bleed’ when broken, with an orangey rusty sap. I love to tease kids with a sample of it when they visit the garden.
Matt
Oh la la…. love these frilly beauties!
The $25 sounds like the price of a trillium, and just as slow to naturalize, if, that is, you're lucky enough to provide the right conditions.
No such delicate woodlanders round here. But tons of bright yellow-orange California poppies!
Alice