(Red Puccoon, Indian Paint, Tetterwort) Spring ephemeral perennial native to the Eastern hardwood forest biome in the US. Plant prefers shade garden or shade of hardwoods. Bloodroot thrives both in deep, rich soils but will also grow on limestone outcroppings. Traditional usage (TWM): expectorant, antimitotic, wart removal. Bloodroot is one of the earliest blooming of all forest plants, the leaves are deeply lobed, characteristic, and quite handsome. The plant makes strong, low-lying patches that live on for centuries. I’ve known plants for 2 decades and they have only gotten more vigorous, while my human body begins to slow with age! Sow the seed in a shaded pot or flat, or direct seed in the shade garden or woodlands. Rake away all mulch, make a shallow furrow, plant the seeds 2 inches apart, cover with soil and tamp well, then rake the mulch back over the planting. If growing in pots or flats, then mulch the surface. Germination is usually in the first but sometimes in the second spring. Seedlings look like little flat parasols. Grow at close spacing for 2 years, then fall transplant the rhizomes to 6 inches apart. Check my book “Growing At-Risk Medicinal Herbs” for more info on growing bloodroot.
