This small, herbaceous woodland plant is one of the most popular of the early bloomers, to those who visit the woods or mountains in early spring. Belonging to the same genus as Bleeding Hearts, the plants usually disappears by early summer. Dicentra is derived from Greek and means "two-spurred"

They are native to the rich moist woods of Eastern and central North America, ranging from North Dakota to Quebec and as far south as Georgia. These easily recognized native wildflowers typically occur on forest floors, rocky woods, north facing slopes, ledges, valleys, ravines and along streams.

Dutchman's Breeches are a spring ephemeral: they make the most of the early spring sunshine by blooming and setting seed before the trees have leafed out, but when the tree canopy closes, even the leaves disappear. Other shade-tolerant spring wildflowers such as bloodroot and wild ginger may flower just as early, but they keep their leaves and bear fruit later in summer.

Blooming in April and May with long pedunculate racemes of irregular, white flowers with traces of yellow at the base are borne in a row on drooping leafless stems arching above the foliage. The resemblance of the flowers to a pair of pants hung up to dry with the pockets inside out, is almost uncanny.

Flowers have 4 petals, with the inner 2 petals being small, connate around other floral organs. The outer 2 petals form a swollen "V" making the hanging flower look like a pair of breeches hung upside-down.

    

Each spring its deeply-cut, grayish-green foliage arises from scaly, pinkish, corn-shaped bulblets with fleshy roots. Even before the flowers open, its graceful mounds of ferny foliage stand out among other leaf shapes.

Dutchman's Breeches are often mistaken for a close relative, Dicentra canadensis (squirrel corn), which has nearly identical leaves, but heart-shaped, pink or red flowers.

Native Americans and early white practitioners considered this plant useful for several conditions including syphilis, skin conditions, blood purifier and may also have been used as a love charm or for seduction.

Plants contain several alkaloids that may have effects on the brain and heart, and may be toxic causing contact dermatitis in some people.

Bumblebees are considered the primary pollinators because only their proboscis is long enough to reach the nectar deep inside the flower. However, other bees with shorter proboscises can also reach the nectar by first chewing through the modified, spur-like petals.

Best naturalized in your woodland, wildflower or native plant gardens. Not often used and generally considered inappropriate for borders because the plants go dormant by summer. The flowering period is relatively short and typically lasts around 1 week (2 if the weather is cool). After bloom and seed set, the plant dies back and lies dormant for the rest of the year.

MOIST, HUMUS RICH, WELL-DRAINED SOIL FULL TO PART SHADE GROWS 4-12 INCHES TALL SPREAD: 4-12 INCHES WIDE FLOWER COLOR: WHITE BLOOMS APRIL - MAY INTOLERANT OF WET SOILS IN WINTER NO SERIOUS INSECT OR DISEASE PROBLEMS POLLINATED BY BUMBLEBEES SEEDS ARE DISPERSED BY ANTS GIVE BULBLETS A SHALLOW PLANTING HARDY IN ZONES 3 - 7 (US)

Dicentra canadensis Dicentra eximia Dicentra formosa

Dicentra peregrina Dicentra spectabilis Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba'