Bloodroot

I suspect that the scary-sounding name of Sanguinaria canadensis, a member of the poppy family, is the main reason you don't see this shade perennial much in gardens or even in nurseries. I found it listed in some native plant guides as yet another candidate for my shady, moist woodlands area, and finally got some from an elderly greenhouse worker in Chicago who brought me some from her own garden. The name, however, comes from the fact that Native Americans used the root to make a red dye. You could do the same, but be careful to wash your hands after handling, because the roots are unpleasant and even poisonous to eat, containing various alkaloids.

This perennial forms, as you can see, a canopy of large, interesting-shaped leaves. When it blooms in late spring, it has white blooms with large yellow centers (right). It likes and needs water and will wilt in late summer heat if ignored, but comes back strong in the spring and spreads to form a ground cover that is taller than some. You could use it as a taller layer above wild ginger. I've had good luck with it in a spot downhill of a downspout, where I used to put annuals with only mixed success.

For more about native plants for the Midwest, especially those that do well in shade/moist areas, see the "book" on this website, Gardening with Native Plants in Shady Evanston.

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