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 December
2000
 Chamaecyparis
obtusa
'Kosteri'
November
2000
Epimediums
October
2000
Asplenium
trichomanes
September
2000
Gentiana
paradoxa
August
2000
Allium
cyaneum
July
2000
Geranium
dalmaticum
June
2000
Lewisia
rediviva
 May
2000
Sanguinaria
canadensis
'Multiplex'
April
2000
Pulsatilla
slavica
March
2000
Crocus
ancyrensis
February
2000
Cassiope
lycopodioides
January
2000
Corallorhiza
maculata
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Plant
of the Month
May
2000
Sanguinaria
canadensis 'Multiplex'
by Iza Goroff
Sanguinaria
canadensis is the bloodroot of the eastern half of
the United States and temperate Canada. It is a member of
the Papaveraceae, the poppy family. It is also called red
puccoon, a Native American term referring to the use of its
startlingly red sap for dyeing.
The flowers
of the species usually have from 8 petals and yellow
stamens. Some forms have been found with a second row of
petals; these are called
'Plena' or
'Flora Plena'.
Sanguinaria canadensis
'Multiplex' has many more petals; all of the stamens
and carpels are converted into petals. The regular species,
while charming, has a habit of dropping its petals after
being fertilized. Forma Multiplex‚ is sterile and
individual flowers can last to 10 days. Both Multiplex‚
and the species grow to about 8" (20cm) high; each stem
carries one large (~6" or 15 cm diameter) clasping leaf and
one flower. The leaf is shaped like 3/4 of a circle with
indentations with the stem attached at the center of the
circle, an inner edge of the leaf.
Sanguinaria
canadensis 'Multiplex' is easy to grow in a well
drained site in light shade with a woods soil, reasonably
high in organic matter. The rhizome should be planted
horizontally, about 1 1/2" deep with an organic mulch. To
ensure its continued health it should be divided every 3-5
years. Each piece of rhizome should have at least one
eye.
The
fascinating history of this clone is told by H. Lincoln
Foster in his article "Sanguinaria canadensis", Bul. ARGS
Vol. 34, No. 2, p57 (1976), reprinted in Cuttings from a
Rock Garden, H. L. Foster & L. L. Foster, Timber
Press (1997).
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