Bloodroot

Redroot, Red puccoon, Red Indian paint. This is another lovely woodland plant, becoming endangered in its native habitat, well worth growing in the Shade Garden. The sweet little blooms open in early spring before the pretty rounded leaves unfurl. Bloodroot needs moist, loamy, hardwood forest soil and shade. The rhizomes yield an orange red dye once used by Native Americans as a body paint and insect repellent. Although toxic, the rhizome is expectorant, tonic, antibacterial and antiviral. Also used topically as an anti Tumor salve with caution as it can be caustic to skin. A Low Dose Botanical Perennial. Hardy to Zones 3-8.