Bloodroot

Sanguinaria canadensis

Other Names:  Coon root, Indian paint, Red Puccoon,  Red root, Tetterwort

 Bloodroot herb pictures by Karen Bergeron  Copyright 2006. Permission required to use any herb pictures from this site.   High Resolution Herb Stock Photos click here   Free Herb Pictures for web sites, click here

CAUTION Use internally with caution, it contains toxic opium-like alkaloids and can cause mucous membrane irritation, an over dose can be fatal, do not use when pregnant or lactating. Bloodroot is not edible.

Click here to visit a site where people who have used Bloodroot for skin growth share their experiences.

Mountain Rose - Learn about Bloodroot Use page

Bloodroot Habitat and Description

Bloodroot is a North American native perennial herb found growing in shaded, moist, rich woodlands from Quebec south to Florida and west to Kansas. Bloodroot grows to about 6 to 7 inches tall.  The pale green, palmate, lobed, basal leaf is wrapped around the flower as it emerges and opens as the flowers blooms. The stem of Bloodroot is round, often orange or red when mature, it is topped by a single white flower with 8 to 12 petals and bright yellow center. The root is a thick, tender, tuber which contains a red juice that stains the skin readily. Gather root when flowers are in bloom. Dry the roots for later use or tincture fresh. Bloodroot is endangered and should be cultivated. Do not harvest from the wild.

How to Grow Bloodroot

Cultivate Bloodroot from seed or root cuttings, prefers light, sandy, moist soil, slightly acidic, shady areas. Bloodroot takes easily to cultivation in shady areas. Plants can be found from ethical cultivators. Again, do not take Bloodroot plants from the woods.

Buy Bloodroot plants from Easyliving Wildflowers

Herbal Recipes

Dye: Mix 4 tbs. fresh Bloodroot juice in 1 gal. cold water, add 1 tbs. alum as mordant. This preparation will work on most material to achieve a red to orange hue. Wear gloves when handling bloodroot.

History and Folklore

Bloodroot was used as a medicinal herb extensively by the Indian Medicine Men and Women in some North American tribes. It was also a ritual skin paint, or war paint, and used as dye by others. The red juice expressed from the root makes an excellent die for cloth, yarn, and many other materials and can be used as a wood stain.

Bloodroot Links

Wildflowers of North Carolina
http://www.ncnatural.com/wildflwr/blodroot.html

Wildflowers of the Southeastern US
http://2bnthewild.com/plants/H261.htm

The North Carolina Arboretum - Bloodroot
(Superb Herbs: 10 medicinal herbs with economic promise)

Article by Deb Jackson & Karen Bergeron

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