Dutchman's Britches
Dicentra cucullaria, commonly called Dutchman's breeches, is an easily recognized, graceful, early spring wildflower which typically occurs on forest floors, rocky woods, slopes, ledges, valleys, ravines and along streams. Features deeply-cut, fern-like, grayish-green foliage and racemes of waxy, white (infrequently tinged with pink), yellow-tipped flowers shaped like pantaloons with the ankles upward (hence the common name). Flowers are borne in a row drooping from leafless stems arching above the foliage in early spring. Plants are petite, usually no more than 12" tall. Flower stems and basal leaves emerge directly from the rootstock.
Larval Host for the
0.5-1'
0.5-1'
SIZE
SOIL
Humus-rich, Neutral, Acidic, Moist
LIGHT
Sun, Shade, Part Shade
BENEFITS
Bees
NOTES
Spring Ephemeral. All parts are poisonous. Toxic in large quantities. Causes minor skin irritation when touched, lasting only for a few minutes.
CHARACTERISTICS
Deer Resistant
March, April
Groundcover
This
flowers in
Dutchman's Breeches
Dicentra cucullaria
DETAIL VIEW
DESCRIPTION
Dicentra cucullaria, commonly called Dutchman's breeches, is an easily recognized, graceful, early spring wildflower which typically occurs on forest floors, rocky woods, slopes, ledges, valleys, ravines and along streams. Features deeply-cut, fern-like, grayish-green foliage and racemes of waxy, white (infrequently tinged with pink), yellow-tipped flowers shaped like pantaloons with the ankles upward (hence the common name). Flowers are borne in a row drooping from leafless stems arching above the foliage in early spring. Plants are petite, usually no more than 12" tall. Flower stems and basal leaves emerge directly from the rootstock.