Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is in the Poppy Family family (Papaveraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 24,339 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from March to April, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Bloodroot: observations by month (U.S.)
About Bloodroot
Sanguinaria canadensis, bloodroot, is a perennial, herbaceous flowering plant native to eastern North America. It is the only species in the genus Sanguinaria, included in the poppy family Papaveraceae, and is most closely related to Eomecon of eastern Asia.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Bloodroot by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 2,023 | April | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 1,960 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Ohio | 1,935 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Illinois | 1,715 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Vermont | 1,653 | April | Apr–May |
| Pennsylvania | 1,625 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Virginia | 1,554 | March | Mar–Apr |
| New York | 1,483 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Wisconsin | 1,429 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Maryland | 1,242 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Michigan | 1,055 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Indiana | 848 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 744 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Tennessee | 682 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Georgia | 492 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Connecticut | 431 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Missouri | 423 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Kentucky | 411 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Iowa | 369 | April | Apr–Apr |
| New Jersey | 324 | April | Apr–Apr |
| West Virginia | 295 | March | Mar–Apr |
| South Carolina | 289 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Arkansas | 228 | March | Mar–Mar |
| New Hampshire | 217 | April | Apr–May |
| Maine | 206 | April | Apr–May |
| Delaware | 182 | April | Mar–Apr |
| District of Columbia | 170 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Alabama | 169 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Mississippi | 31 | March | Feb–Mar |
| Florida | 29 | February | Feb–Feb |
| Rhode Island | 28 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Kansas | 27 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Nebraska | 25 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Oklahoma | 17 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Texas | 16 | March | Feb–Mar |
| South Dakota | 8 | April | Apr–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Poppy Family)
Dutchman's breeches
California poppy
Squirrel Corn
Pacific Bleeding Heart
Greater celandine
Celandine Poppy
Creamcups
Little Gold Poppy
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Bloodroot?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to April.
Where is Bloodroot most often seen?
The most observations come from Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio.