Northwest Blooms · Groundcovers
Sanguinaria canadensis 'Multiplex'
Double Bloodroot
- Family
- Papaveraceae
- Height
- 6 to 10 in
- Width
- 6 to 12 in
- Flower color
- Pure white, fully double blossoms composed of many narrow, layered petals
- Foliage color
- Blue-green to gray-green, with rounded, deeply lobed leaves that emerge tightly wrapped around the flower and mature to medium green
- Bloom time
- Early spring
- Light
- Partial shade to full shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low; allow foliage to die back naturally, spreads slowly by rhizomes
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 3 to 8
- Wildlife
- Early-season pollinators such as native bees
About this plant
Sanguinaria canadensis 'Multiplex' produces fully double, pure white flowers in early spring, emerging before the foliage has fully expanded. The many layered petals form rounded blooms that open gradually and hold their shape longer than single forms. Flowers appear as winter recedes, followed by distinctive blue-green leaves that unfurl and expand, their softly scalloped edges and veining adding interest as the season progresses.
This long-cultivated selection is believed to have arisen as a naturally occurring double form in eastern North America. It is well suited to woodland gardens, shaded borders, and naturalized areas, where its early blooms provide seasonal emphasis and its foliage later fills space quietly.
Works well in
Under Trees · Borders · Pollinator Gardens · Woodland Gardens
Companion plants
Trilliums · Kalmias · Violets · Sword ferns · Epimediums · Rodgersias
Design tip
Plant this woodland ephemeral beneath deciduous trees where its pristine blooms emerge before the canopy fills. Combine layered spring wildflowers, graceful ferns, and native shrubs to create a natural woodland planting with texture, depth, and a seamless progression through the season.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
