Dutchman's Breeches is a native perennial wildflower occurring in rich or rocky deciduous moist woods and ravines and in the mountains. This woodland perennial can spread to cover considerable areas. It prefers humus-rich, acid to neutral soils and tolerates clay soils. In spring the basal ferny leaves appear along with a leafless arching stem bearing a row of fragrant white pantaloon-shaped flowers. It blooms in March and adds early interest to the garden. By summer the plant goes dormant. Use in woodland and shade gardens. Plant with later appearing perennials. Propagation can be done by division of crowns or root cuttings in spring or fall. Seeds need moist cold stratification and can be slow and difficult to germinate. Seeds are spread by ants. All parts of this plant are toxic if consumed in large quantities.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Cascading; Erect
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Deltoid
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Soft
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The triangular-shaped greyish-green leaves are 3-6 inches long, basilar, stand upright on long stems and are deeply cut and fernlike.
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Urn
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
3/4 inch long white flowers bloom on 5-10 inch long arching leafless stems and resemble upside-down pantaloons. 2 inflated petals form spurs. Blooms March-May.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
The oval seed capsules taper into points at both ends. These capsules split apart into 2 segments to release many seeds. Fruits appear from May to June.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Cream/Tan; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Stems are tan to reddish-brown and upright
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
E. Canada to N. & E. U.S.A.
Distribution
AL , AR , CT , DC , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV Canada: MB , NB , NS , ON , PE , QC
Trembling, staggering, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, labored breathing if eaten in large quantities. Skin irritation after repeated contact with the cell sap is mild and lasts a short time.