bloodroot

noun

blood·​root ˈbləd-ˌrüt 

-ˌru̇t

: a plant (Sanguinaria canadensis) of the poppy family having a red root and sap and bearing a solitary lobed leaf and white flower in early spring

called also sanguinaria

Examples of bloodroot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sewanee’s summer wildflowers include harbinger-of-spring, bloodroot, great white trillium, pink lady’s slippers, and mountain laurel. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2025

Add in some ferns, mayapples, and spring ephemerals like bloodroot, red trillium, trout lily, and Virginia bluebells for early season interest. —Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2025

Closer examination of the forest floor also produced looks at the tiny blooms of bloodroot as well as the emerging leaves of ephemerals soon to bloom, including trout lily. —Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025

The most common ones found in Maryland are white trillium, bloodroot, Virginia bluebells, mayapples, spring beauties and dutchman’s Breeches. —Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1724, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bloodroot

• acute
• aleut
• astute
• beetroot
• breadfruit
• cheroot
• commute
• compute
• confute
• dilute
• dispute
• elute

Kids Definition

bloodroot

noun

blood·​root ˈbləd-ˌrüt 

-ˌru̇t

: a plant related to the poppies, having a red root and sap, and bearing a single leaf and a white flower in early spring

Medical Definition

bloodroot

noun

blood·​root -ˌrüt  -ˌru̇t 

: an herb (Sanguinaria canadensis) of the poppy family that has red sap and has a rootstock and roots used as an emetic and expectorant