Slender toothwort is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the mustard family (Brassicaceae) native to the eastern United States. In North Carolina, it is mainly found in the northern Piedmont growing on the lower slopes of mixed hardwood forests. Slender toothwort prefers part shade to shade in humus-rich, slightly acidic, moist soils. They grow up to 16 inches tall from a rhizome. Propagation is by seed or division. The short terminal cluster of 4-petaled white flowers often has a purplish-pink tint. They appear late winter to early spring after the basal leaves, which can be seen as early as January. The stem leaves are distinctly different from the basal leaves. The plant then produces seeds in April to May and dies to the ground. Slender toothwort can be used in native, woodland or shade gardens, and along shady ponds or streams. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
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.
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist
NC region
Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 2 in. - 1 ft. 4 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Whorled
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear; Ovate
Leaf margin
Dentate; Entire
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The basal leaves consist of three diamond or oval-shaped leaves with toothed margins. There are 2 to 3 whorled stem leaves that are divided into 3 leaflets. They are narrow-lance shaped to linear and toothed or entire. Basal leaves can be up to 9 inches long. The stem leaves are only up to 2.5 inches long.
Flower color
Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Flowers appear in late winter to early spring on short terminal racemes. They are up to 1 inch across with 4 petals and are white but often tinged purplish-pink.
Bloom time
Spring; Winter
Fruit color
Green
Fruit type
Caryopsis
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Fruit is a linear green pod
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Stems smooth (occasionally hairy), often red-tinged.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern United States
Distribution
AL , AR , DC , DE , GA , IN , KY , MD , MS , NC , NJ , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , VA , WV Canada: NS
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Caryopsis
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Pond; Riparian; Small Space; Woodland