plant-banner1

NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Dicentra cucullaria

Dutchman's Breeches, Dutchman's Britches

Scientific Name:

Dicentra cucullaria

Genus:

Dicentra

Species Epithet:

cucullaria

Common Name:

Dutchman's Breeches, Dutchman's Britches

Plant Type

Herb/Wildflower

Life Cycle

Perennial

Plant Family

Fumariaceae (Fumitory Family)

Native/Alien:

NC Native

Size:

0-1 ft.

Bloom Color(s):

White, Pink

Light:

Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day, Less than 2 hours of sun per day

Soil Moisture:

Moist

Bloom Time:

March, April, May

Growing Area:

Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain

Habitat Description:

Rich, moist forests, especially rich cove forests in the mountains. Rare throughout NC.

Leaf Arrangement:

Basal

Leaf Retention:

Deciduous

Leaf Type:

Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like

Leaf Form:

Compound

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Wildlife Value:

Has some wildlife value

Landscape Value:

Recommended and Available

State Rank:

S4: Apparently secure (*Key)

Global Rank:

G5 - Secure (*Key)

State Status:

W6: Watch List: Regionally Rare (*Key)

Notes:

Easy to confuse the foliage with Dicentra canadensis, Squirrel Corn.

Blooms

image

Large stands growing at Willie Duke's Bluff. The blue-green, ternately compound leaves are very lacey in appearance.

Durham County, NC

The Scientific Name is Dicentra cucullaria. You will likely hear them called Dutchman's Breeches, Dutchman's Britches. This picture shows the Large stands growing at Willie Duke's Bluff. The blue-green, ternately compound leaves are very lacey in appearance. of Dicentra cucullaria

Bettina Darveaux

The raceme of white flowers are very distinctive, looking like pairs of pants on a clothesline. The racemes tend to bend to one side, with the flowers hanging upside-down from their pedicels.

Willie Duke's Bluff, Durham County, NC

The Scientific Name is Dicentra cucullaria. You will likely hear them called Dutchman's Breeches, Dutchman's Britches. This picture shows the The raceme of white flowers are very distinctive, looking like pairs of pants on a clothesline. The racemes tend to bend to one side, with the flowers hanging upside-down from their pedicels. of Dicentra cucullaria

Bettina Darveaux

The flowers consists of two white sepals, two white outer spurred petals, and 2 inner petals that are pale yellow with small wings that curl upward. The spurs are joined together at the base.

Willie Duke's Bluff, Durham County, NC

The Scientific Name is Dicentra cucullaria. You will likely hear them called Dutchman's Breeches, Dutchman's Britches. This picture shows the The flowers consists of two white sepals, two white outer spurred petals, and 2 inner petals that are pale yellow with small wings that curl upward. The spurs are joined together at the base.  of Dicentra cucullaria

Bettina Darveaux

Links:

USDA PLANTS Database Record



Permalink - (right click to save this page to your bookmarks)

<<< PREVIOUS

NEXT >>>

back to top
go to plant details search
go to plant images search
go to gallery home
back to Initial d Gallery
back to orchids
back to Carnivorous Plants
back to Trilliums