PlantFiles: Dutchman's Breeches
Dicentra cucullaria

Grows WILD, prolific as dandelions, or wild violet, on the edges and openings of our hardwoods (mostly maple). Appears early, and in the garden, it mixes well with bulbs. Great early groundcover, especially under shrubs, and anywhere otherwise would just be bare ground before garden plants start to sprout or shrubs leaf out. No care provided. Dies back (like bulbs): faster in sun, slower in shade; but by then the trillium are in bloom. Often what remains to be seen are clusters of little red "feet" about the size of tapioca pearls at the soils' surface. Easy to transplant from our vegetable garden area to perennial beds. Tilling the garden just seems to spread them the following year. A great spring perennial, and it didn't cost me a dime.

This little charmer is up now (4/7/09) and cannot wait to bloom. What is confusing about it is that it comes up in one place in one year & the next year, does not come up in the same place, but another place. As long as it comes up, that's all I ask.

I discovered this growing on the property whilst out looking for native species to Iowa and this property to add to my shade garden on the same property. It is beautiful, dependable delicate looking and as stated before does not last near as long as I'd like.

This plant grows wild in Michigan but is against the to pick. An interesting fact about Dutceman's Breeches is that there are male and female plants. Great spring flower just don't last long enough.

A nice groundcover for the spaces between hostas, ferns and other late emerging plants that seem to reseed itself at low to moderate rate.

Great little North American native plant with very interesting and delicate white blooms. Very elegant spring ephemeral.

Interesting fact is that most insects don't have mouthparts long enough to reach the nectar without chewing through the flower to get to it.

The leaves and tubers of this plant are toxic as they contain isoquinoline alkaloids. Don't eat those parts and you'll be fine. It really is poisonous if ingested. It allegedly can cause dermatitis if touched however I have not experienced this.

In addition to dividision, this plant can be propagated by seed. The seed should be gathered in April or May. It will require multiple cycles of warm and cold stratification so don't give up on it if it doesn't germinate right away.

Flowers are perfect, 2-nerved, bilaterally symmetrical; sepals: 2, falling early from the flower; petals: 4, 2 outer and 2 inner; outer 2 petals fused at base, free at the ends, one or both forming basal sacs; inner 2 petals slender at base, fused over the stigma at apex; stamens: 6; leaves: glabrous, herbaceous decompound or dissected; stems: watery, juice apparent when crushed.

PHENOLOGY: Dutchman's breeches and squirrel-corn flower in spring, usually April to May Bleeding heart flowers in early summer, June to July.