Bloodroot

Hi Janet:

I have had native bloodroot for years since a young gal in my gardens.  If
your soil is good you should have luck with this plant.  Since we have taken
down
the old trees with plenty of shade now gone - my Bloodroot has multiplied
even faster.  I actually didn't think they would last long in this hot sun.
Since they are in the front of the border the taller perennials shade them
during the hot summer weather.   But, I do have them in really good
composted soil.  When I used to gather this plant in the woods I'd loved to
smell the good old earth and you could smell the old composted leaves when
lifting from the ground. (I never take all the plants from one group of
plantings)  Perhaps you could make sure your soil is well worked in with
compost. Putting a little mulch around
them during the hot weather.   I've seen blooms in the woods here in
Pennsylvania
that catches your breath they are so large. Would like to get the double
flowering bloodroot and would imagine the cultivation for double the same as
our native plants. Some plants I didn't even need a shovel to dig them up
the soil was so composted and fluffy you could just use your fingers to go
underneath the plants.

Actually, my husband came in last night after walking our doggie to tell me
he thinks the bloodroot was up.  I told him, "I didn't think it was
bloodroot, but would take a walk over to the woods".  hee hee - It was
just an escaped crocus.  So I showed him how to tell the difference from a
crocus to a bloodroot.  Let's see this next month if he finds some when he
walks up the road here.  I know there is a good batch there which should be
unrolling their leaves soon.

If I remember correctly I read somewhere long ago that the local native
Indians here in Pennylsvania used to grind the root up for use in painting
pottery red.

Good luck with your double bloodroot. I'll make sure I buy a few of these
doubles this year.
Kate
Zionsville, PA Zone 6 USA

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