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The double flowered form of the Bloodroot is a wonderful small plant for a shady position. The perfect flowers nestle anong the grey green leaves for a week or so
at the end of April. I find it stronger in the garden than the single form, though it has not persisted for very long here. John Good wrote on the AGS website: "The Canadian bloodroot is a very special woodland plant that thrives in humus-rich soils in semi-shade. The form usually seen in gardens is the many-petalled Sanguinaria canadensis f. multiplex ‘Plena’. This is often offered as S. canadensis ‘flore plena’, or simply as ‘double bloodroot’. A measure of the exquisite beauty of the plant, whether single or double-flowered, is that it is much in demand despite being in flower for only a week or two each year. But then visitors to the garden, not to mention the gardener himself, have eyes for little else. A measure of the exquisite beauty of the plant, whether single or double-flowered, is that it is much in demand despite being in flower for only a week or two each year. But then visitors to the garden, not to mention the gardener himself, have eyes for little else. Sanguinaria canadensis is limited to the eastern states of N. America, from Florida up into Canada. Like most woodland herbaceous plants, it blooms in early spring before the tree canopy develops. The flowers arise singly, direct from the rhizome, soon to be followed by the rapidly developing foliage. The leaves are attractive in themselves, having an unusual scalloped edge and greyish colouring. They last until early summer and then are gone, having done their work of building up the rhizomes for future seasons. The double bloodroot is sterile, the male floral parts being replaced by additional petals. So it can only be propagated vegetatively. Division of the rhizomes can be at any time during the dormant season. But early spring (February – March), just before growth commences is probably best. Cut cleanly down through the rhizome, making sure the division has several buds. Don’t worry about the bleeding sap, it is not a problem. But if you must, dust the cut ends with charcoal or sulphur powder to staunch the flow and perhaps sterilise the wound. Divisions can be planted directly into well prepared ground. Or you can pot them in a good humus-rich compost. Either way, water assiduously but do not allow them to become waterlogged. |
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| 28th April 2006 | ||
