Dutchman’s Breeches, also known as Dicentra cucullaira, is a perennial wildflower that is native to the Eastern portion of the United States; though more rarely, the plant can also be found in the wooded areas of the Pacific Northwest. It blooms in the spring from March to April and goes dormant by mid-summer. The delicate looking flowers on this plant range in color from white to a very light pink and are light yellow at the tip.
Dutchman's Breeches Flowers
The flowers on them resemble a pair of pants that are hanging upside down, with the ankle on top. The small flowers, about ¾ in., appear in rows on leafless stems that protrude up through the foliage. The leaves on them are roughly 4 inches long and resemble those on a fern, are deeply cut, and are greyish-green in color. These plants are smaller in size at just one foot tall and one foot wide. They thrive best with an average amount of moisture, in well-drained and humus soil, and in part to fully shaded areas.
Dutchman's Breeches Pollination
Typically, they are pollinated by bumblebees who have the ability, with their long proboscis, to tap the nectar. Honeybees can also pollinate them but not as easily because they only have the ability to collect the pollen with their front feet.
Utilizing Dutchman's Breeches
Dutchman’s Breeches are best left in nature. However, if they are found in a garden because they go dormant by summer, they aren’t typically used as a border. If these plants are being used in a garden, they should be planted in the October or very early spring. It should be noted, that they grow from underground tubers, therefore, if they are planted in the right conditions they spread rapidly. They can be tamed by digging up and either removing or replanting the tubers.
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