Sanguinaria canadensis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- san-gwin-AR-ee-uh ka-na-DEN-sis
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Bright orange-red sap in the thick rootstock; found in moist, nutrient-rich forests or natural areas in rich woods; landscape in flower gardens as an herbaceous perennial.
Perennial wildflower from a rhizome (underground, horizontal stem) with blood-red juice, leaf single, rounded in outline but with shallowly and palmately lobed margin, flower solitary, white with 6-18 petals, fruit an elongated capsule with a seed. There is a cultivar, 'Multiplex', that is double-flowered and does not produce a seed. This plant makes for good seasonal ground cover.
Found in forests or natural areas in rich woods, landscape in flower gardens as a herbaceous perennial. Ants are known to eat and disperse the seeds of this plant.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Shaded Slope
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Sanguinaria
- Species:
- canadensis
- Family:
- Papaveraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Red sap was used for dye for baskets, clothing, and war paint, as as an insect repellent.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- USA, North Carolina
- Play Value:
- Shade
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are green pods with brown seeds that become available April-May.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 1.5-2" bright white flowers, 8 to 12 petals. Two sepals fall away as flower opens. Flowers bloom March-April.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Shape:
- Palmasect
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 6", five to nine lobed leaf with blunt teeth, persists until mid-summer
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
