04/20/2026
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is a woodland native with white flowers and red sap found in its roots. The root’s crimson juice was used as a natural dye by Native American tribes and held cultural and medicinal significance. I've also been told Native American tribes, including the Ponca and Algonquin, used the bright red sap as a love charm. Bachelors would apply the root's juice to their palms and attempt to shake hands with a woman they desired to marry, leaving a red stain.
Putty root (Aplectrum hyemale), or “Adam and Eve,” is a native orchid with paired underground corms—one old, one new. Its sticky corms were once used as natural glue. A quiet woodland plant that’s easy to overlook.
Sunchokes (Helianthus tuberosus), or Jerusalem Artichokes, produces edible underground tubers. Harvest after the first frost in the fall. Cold temps helps convert stored carbohydrates into sugars for a sweeter taste.
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) spreads through aggressive underground rhizomes, forming dense colonies. Its root system makes it ideal for pollinator habitats and restoration areas.
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) is a shade-loving ground cover that spreads via shallow, creeping rhizomes, forming a dense mat that helps suppress weeds.
Trillium luteum is a long-lived native trillium, often living 20–50+ years. It spreads through a slow underground rhizome, and each leaf scar can mark roughly one year of growth. A true woodland timekeeper.
