Dutchman's breeches

Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh.

light
Part sun
water
Medium
tall
11 cm
wide
18 cm

Papaveraceae

Formerly Bicuculla cucullaria, Bicuculla occidentalis, Bikukulla cucullaria, Capnorchis cucullaria, and 12 more

When it flowers

Not known yet in the tropics: too few flowering observations to read a season from.

PetsNo pet-safety information yet
PeopleNC State Extension lists it as mildly poisonous (flowers, fruits, roots, sap, seeds, stems) (25 Oct 2026)

If a child, a pet or anyone may have eaten a plant, contact a doctor or vet straight away, or call the National Poisons Information Centre (AIIMS, New Delhi) on 1800 116 117, free and open 24 hours.

Something wrong with it?

About it

Grows as
PerennialKew's checklist, not yet checked
Climate
TemperateKew's checklist, not yet checked
Wild in
E. Canada to N. & E. U.S.A.Kew's checklist, not yet checked
Light
Part shade (3 to 6 h)Read from NC State Extension, one source
Height
8 cm to 15 cmRead from NC State Extension, one source
Spread
15 cm to 20 cmRead from NC State Extension, one source
Water
Average: moist, well drainedRead from NC State Extension, one source
Flowers
White, pinkRead from NC State Extension, one source
Coldest it survives
-40 °C (USDA zone 3a)Read from NC State Extension, one source

Not known yet: heat, hottest it survives.

In other languages (1)

Chinese
僧帽荷包牡丹, 马裤花

Where this comes from

A fact “checked by a majority of its sources” was settled by a vote of the pages it was read from, not by a person reading it; one marked “one source” rests on that page alone. Anything else not marked checked has not been checked yet. Where nothing is known, the page says so rather than guess.