Sanguinaria canadensis 'Snow Cone'

Snow Cone Bloodroot

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Item #: 13257

Zones: 4a to 8b

Dormancy: Winter, Summer, Fall

Height: 6" tall

Culture: Light Shade to Shade

Origin: United States

Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)


Sanguinaria canadensis 'Snow Cone' is a clonal selection of our Eastern US native bloodroot, from iris breeders, Jan Sacks and Marty Schaffer, who selected it as a seedling from their Tennessee form. This little-known and hard-to-find 2016 selection produces 6" tall stalks, starting for us in early March, each topped with 3" wide flowers, each with up to 25 pure white petals...a striking clump in the woodland garden. Sanguinaria canadensis is a spring ephemeral, meaning it will go dormant by late spring.

Maintenance:

Sanguinaria canadensis requires almost no maintenance. It seems to quietly disappear unnoticed when it goes dormant in late summer. It does benefit from division of clumps when they get crowded after many years. They also tolerate being divided. This can be done most anytime, though it would be best, if possible, to avoid the time when the leaves are developing. Once fully matured, the leaves will not be affected by division. The subterranean rhizomes are finger thick and bright red inside. Divide into separate plants and replant about 6" apart. Long rhizomes can be cut into shorter sections each several inches long. As rhizomes are underground stems, cutting them into shorter pieces produces the same results as pinching back an above ground stem:The dormant lateral buds will now grow with the removal of the terminal bud. Do not expect new growth from these rhizome cuttings until the following spring.

Growing Conditions:

Sanguinaria canadensis 'Snow Cone' is a spring ephemeral, coming into growth and bloom early in the year when it can make use of the sunlight before the canopy trees leaf out. It will succeed in bright shade or part day sun areas. It can also be grown in sunny locations where it will grow more strongly. Avoid a poorly drained soil. It will tolerate a dry site but perform more satisfactorily in moist well drained soil.

Garden Value:

Snow Cone Bloodroot blooms very early in the year, well ahead of the spring peak, so its flowers are most welcome. The double forms are especially beautiful. Bloodroot foliage is of an interesting form, somewhat like that of a fig, Ficus carica, so it can be of value in the garden especially when contrasted with different forms and texture. The foliage is especially charming at the time of bloom as a single leaf will wrap around each flower stalk like a shawl thrown over one's shoulder.