Description of a Bloodroot Flower

Flower

Bloodroot is a member of the Papaveraceae family and commonly found in the woodlands of North America. This perennial wildflower blooms from late winter through early spring. The flower of this plant features 8 to 12 petals that are oblong. In the center of these petals are many yellow stamens. When fruit is produced, the leaves of the plant become flat to produce shade for the fruit.

Bloodroots bloom from a single stalk and are accented with a basal leaf that measures 8 inches in width. The root of the plant is actually a rhizome surrounded by fibrous roots. The roots of this plant are reddish-orange. This plant thrives in moist, humus-rich soils with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. Bloodroots are shade-loving flowers that need to be planted where they receive 70 to 80 percent shade.

Bloodroots can be propagated by seed or root division. Since seeds are more difficult to locate, the most common method of propagation is by root division. Rhizomes should be divided in the spring or fall and started indoors or directly in the ground. When rhizomes are used, the flower is harvestable faster than if the plant were started from a seed. When planting seeds, they should be placed 1 to 2 inches apart and 1.4 inch deep in moist soil.

The bloodroot flower is white and accented by a yellow center. This flower is ready for harvest in the fall or the spring. Upon harvest, the plant should be carefully removed from the ground with the use of a spade fork or potato digger and the roots should be shaken to remove anything that isn't part of the root system, such as rocks, bugs and weeds. Process roots of the plant before they have a chance to dry out by washing them thoroughly with a hose or root washer and drying them in a warm environment. Once they are dry, a dehydrator can be used to prepare them for storage. A single acre of bloodroot can produce 1,500 lbs. of dried root.

Bloodroot is an herb used in animal feed as an alternative to synthetic antibiotics. In 2001, 135,000 lbs. of bloodroot were consumed, the majority of which was used by animals and humans in Europe and Asia. This plant is also sold for ornamental purposes. In 2006, a pound of bloodroot was bringing $10 to $16 and demand is expected to increase.