It depends uon the effect you are trying to achieve. The Bloodroot is NOT ephemeral!!! In a dry situation it will go dormant, but in a moisture site it will perist until fall when the leaves will turn yellow.

Thanks for your answer, waplummer. I posted this over in Perennials and folks said the same - that bloodroot keeps its leaves although whether those leaves are attractive for the longterm depends (it seems) on moisture conditions.

I'm going to give each plant a try in different locations and see what happens.