Bloodroot, one of the earliest wildflowers to announce the arrival of spring, is a member of the poppy family. Each plant bears a single waxy, white flower with 8 to 12 white petals surrounding a bright yellow center. Like many spring flowers, it closes at night and even stays closed on especially gloomy days. Bloodroot grows best in sheltered woodland conditions, with bright sun in the early spring and shade when the leaves come out on the hardwood trees. True to its name, bloodroot has a bright red root that produces a red juice that was used by Native Americans as a dye and war paint.