Bloodroot: confusion, cultivation and harvest

Tormentil is becoming increasingly popular in the garden as a domestic medicinal plant. There, the upright cinquefoil also makes the bees happy.

The Bloodroot (Potentilla erecta) not only looks beautiful, but also contains medicinally interesting active ingredients. In addition, it requires little care and multiplies by itself in suitable locations in the garden. We show what makes the plant special and how to plant it.

Bloodroot: root, properties and origin

The Bloodroot (Potentilla erecta) belongs to the genus of cinquefoils (potentilla) and is also called upright cinquefoil, tormentill or tormentilla, viperwort, redroot and seven-fingered. It occurs in temperate and boreal Europe, is native to Germany and is considered an indicator plant for nutrient-poor locations. The plant species from the rose family (Rosaceae) grows creeping on the ground, but also sends up upright shoots. The perennial, herbaceous plant reaches heights of up to 40 cm. Bloodroot got its name from its roots, which, strictly speaking, are rhizomes, i.e. thickened, underground shoots. These are thick and bulbous and show a blood-red color when cut open. The woody rhizome can be harvested in spring and has been used in medicine since the Middle Ages. Bloodroot has flowering time from May. The yellow flowers sit individually on the stems and usually have four petals. The leaves sit directly on the stem and are in three parts. However, since there are also stipules, as is usual for the rose family, they usually appear in five or more parts. The basal leaves, however, are stalked.

Confused with tormentil: similar plants

In general, there is a risk of confusing bloodroot with other cinquefoils, such as creeping cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans), which usually has five petals. Most species also flower yellow and have palmate-looking leaves similar to the upright cinquefoil. Some species of the buttercup family also have similar flowers (Ranunculus), which usually have more than four petals.

Growing bloodroot: location and procedure

The upright cinquefoil can also be planted in the garden. As a native wild plant, insects like to visit it. Tormentil prefers a location in partial shade on lean soil with a rather acidic pH value. It also tolerates sunnier places. The cold germs are best sown in early spring or in autumn at a distance of about 25 cm. You can also plant tormentil in a pot. It is best to choose a deep container for the thick rhizome. Use a slightly acidic, low-nutrient substrate for cultivation, such as ours Plantura Organic Herb & Seed Soil. Our organic soil contains no peat and also fewer nutrients than potting soil, which benefits many kitchen and wild herbs and seedlings. If some more sand is mixed in, the young tormentil will feel even better. The seeds should only be lightly covered with soil. For further culture in the pot and in the bed, you should then use a slightly more nutrient-rich soil, such as ours Plantura Organic Acid Soil, use and mix them with 30% sand. It is ideally suited for the upright cinquefoil, as the plant needs an acidic environment and does not tolerate lime well. The acidic soil also provides them with all the important nutrients. It is advisable to place a drainage layer of potsherds or stones under the substrate in the pot to allow water to drain away.

The right care

Once in the garden, tormentil requires little maintenance. It is an extremely frugal plant species. It tolerates both sun and light shade, drought and nutrient shortages. If it doesn't rain for a long time in summer, you can water the tormentil a little. If you keep the cinquefoil in a pot, you should water it more regularly, as the soil can dry out more quickly here.

Fertilizers are usually not required. Stands Potentilla erecta for a longer period of time at the same location, a single application of fertilizer in the spring can support growth. Here, for example, our Plantura organic universal fertilizer be used, which is suitable for most plants. All important nutrients are gradually released here and thus made available for the plants. For tormentil in a pot, it is sufficient to repot it in fresh soil every two to three years. No care is necessary in winter, as tormentil is hardy. Although the upper parts of the plant die off in the cold season, the roots survive in the soil and the cinquefoil sprout again next spring.

Harvesting and Using Bloodroot

In the first year the root of the tormentil should not be harvested, from the second year the harvest can then take place in October or November. To do this, the plant is dug up and part of the rhizome is cut off. This is freed from the roots that emerge from it. The tormentil can then simply be replanted with the remaining rhizome. The rhizome can then be cleaned, chopped up and dried for two to three weeks.

The tannins contained in the rhizome can relieve itching on the skin or stop bleeding. Consumption can also help against gastrointestinal complaints. Bloodroot tinctures can also be gargled and are said to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Bloodroot tea is also said to have healing effects. For the right dosage, you should definitely seek advice from a doctor or a pharmacy.

Bloodroot schnapps or bloodroot liqueur is often prepared from the plant.

Also the Comfrey is an uncomplicated wild plant with healing properties. We show you how to plant and care for it in the garden.