Home Sitemap Site Index Contact About Us

Dicentra Cucularia - Dutchman's Breeches - Native Indiana Spring Woodland Wildflower © 2006

Back To Wildflowers

Back To Wildflower Index

Dutchman’s Breeches Dicentra cucullaria Family - Papaveraceae - Poppy This diminutive member of the bleeding heart family blooms in very early to mid April here in south-eastern Indiana. This is another of the woodland wildflowers, like so many others of the early spring here. The flowers resemble a pair of Dutchman’s pantaloons, thus the name. They grow from four to twelve inches tall.

The species name, cucullaria, comes from the Greek word meaning "two spurred", as the flowers have two spurs on them. Bumble bees pollinate this wildflower. Honeybees have too short a proboscis and can only gather nectar from the fragrant flowers.

Dutchman’s Breeches are mostly found in rich, moist woodland. The wildflower is fairly short lived, the season only lasting two weeks or so. The seed capsules mature quickly disburse their seed and suddenly fade away, to be seen again the following spring. In our woods, they are found mostly on a north facing hill, amongst Christmas Fern and Trout Lily above a small stream.

The white bleeding heart is one of our prettiest wildflowers. The leaves are delicate and in a very pretty shade of green. The dainty flowers are held high, as if the plant is proud to have produced such a showy blossom. Dutchman’s Breeches are one of my favorite spring woodland wildflowers.

Top Of Page