Plant Profile: Redroot By Craig Huegel Reprinted from The Understory, Oct.-Nov. 1996 (Illustration © Cathy Vogelsong) The midsummer wildflower scene would not be nearly as interesting without the addition of redroot (Lachnanthes caroliniana). Common throughout Florida in a wide variety of wet to moist soil habitats, redroot is a dominant wildflower wherever it occurs. This perennial herb is easily recognized. Vegetatively, it looks very similar to iris and is easily confused with it in the early spring months when both are emerging from the ground. Its leaves are more numerous and not as tall, however. Bright green and flattened laterally, the leaves reach their full height of about two feet by early summer. At this time, the flower heads begin to form. A single stalk rises from each plant to a height of about three feet. The flower head, or inflorescence, is white and somewhat woolly. It eventually flattens out into a broad head (corymb) that contains numerous greenish-white flowers that are orange-yellow inside. Redroot is by no means the showiest of our summer wildflowers, but it is one of the best at attracting butterflies. A field of redroot most assuredly will translate to a field of brightly colored swallowtails, hairstreaks, and others. The characteristic feature that gives this plant its name is not readily visible. Pull one of these plants from the ground and you will clearly see its orange-red "root," more accurately a rhizome. This "root" was used by Native Americans and early settlers as a dye plant. Redroot will propagate either by the tiny seeds that are produced by the flowers or by the rhizomes underground. Just like the iris, redroot will spread slowly by its rhizomes if permitted to. This wildflower is an excellent addition to the landscape if the correct conditions can be provided. It requires soils that remain moist, and truly prospers only when these soils are periodically flooded. Do not plant it, however, in the littoral zone of a pond that remains underwater for great lengths of time. Redroot also prefers a somewhat sunny location. Give it full- to half-sun to maximize its flowering and butterfly potential. I also would recommend that it be planted with other wildflowers and not be used alone, for aesthetic appeal.