description Dutchman's Breeches Overview
Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) is a spring ephemeral native to the rich, deciduous woodlands of eastern North America. It produces fern-like basal leaves and leafless stems bearing white, yellow-tipped flowers shaped like tiny pairs of pantaloons. The plant is a member of the fumitory subfamily and typically goes dormant by early summer after setting seed.
help Dutchman's Breeches FAQ
What do Dutchman's Breeches flowers look like?
The white, yellow-tipped flowers look like tiny pairs of pantaloons hanging from leafless stems. Their unusual shape gives Dicentra cucullaria its common name.
Where does Dutchman's Breeches grow naturally?
Dutchman's Breeches is native to the rich deciduous woodlands of eastern North America. It grows as a spring woodland wildflower rather than as a prairie plant.
Why is Dutchman's Breeches called a spring ephemeral?
It emerges, flowers, and completes much of its seasonal growth early in the year before the woodland canopy becomes dense. Its fern-like basal leaves and leafless flower stems are characteristic of that spring cycle.
What are Dutchman's Breeches leaves like?
The plant produces fern-like basal leaves close to the ground. The flowers rise on separate leafless stems above that foliage.
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