The Two-leaf Toothwort is a native perennial in the USA and Eastern Canada. It typically grows in rich, moist, slightly acidic soils in woodlands or shaded meadows. This plant cannot tolerate deep shade cast by evergreen trees. The plant is an attractive groundcover in the autumn and winter. It is dormant in the summer and spreads via rhizomes. It makes a good groundcover under Cornus florida. It is a member of the Brassicaceae or the mustard family and was formerly of the genus, Dentaria. The current genus is Cardamine. The name is derived from the Greek word, "Kardamon," which refers to cress in the Mustard family. The species name, diphylla, is Greek referring to "two-leaved." Toothwort refers to the rootstalk. In the spring the plant emerges upright measuring 8-16 inches tall with paired leaves that have coarsely toothed margins. The loose cluster of white or light pink flowers appears at the end of the stem from mid-April to mid-May. Pods or siliqua appear and open 4-5 weeks after blooming. Mature pods split open and release their seeds. The seedlings may take up to 3-4 years before they bloom. The seeds have low viability in storage, therefore the seed should be sown immediately after collection. A moist, shaded seedbed is required. It may be best to multiply this plant by rootstock division, preferably when the plant is dormant. Care should be taken because the rhizomes are easily damaged or broken. The Two-leafed Toothwort is similar to Cardamine concatenata or Cut-leaved Toothwort. The stems leaves of the Cut-leaved Toothwort differ because they appear in a whorl. The leaves and roots of the Two-leaf Toothwort can be eaten both raw or cooked. The West Virginia white butterfly uses the plant to lay its eggs. It is also the host plant for the falcate orange -tip butterfly. Flea beetles feed on their foliage. Specialized bees known as Andrena arabis collect pollen from Cardamines. More information on Cardamine .
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.
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 4 in. | Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Dentate
Leaf value
Edible
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
There are basal and stem leaves. The stem has two leaf stalks that opposite of each other or just slightly offset, thus the name "two-leaved." The stem leaves have three leaflets. The leaves are elliptic to ovate in shape and have coarse dentated margins. The basal leaves are similar to the stem leaves, but they arise from the rootstock generally after the plant flowers.
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Cross
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
A delicate loose cluster of white or light pink blooms appears from mid-April to mid-May. The flowers are usually less than 2/3 inches wide. Each flower has four green, oblong sepals with obtuse tips. The four white or light pink petals have rounded tips and are longer than the sepals. There are six white stamens. The anthers are yellowish-green. The flowers are located at the end of a stem that rises above the leaves.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Cream/Tan
Fruit type
Siliqua
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Mature flowers may produce narrow, long erect, dry pods or siliqua. This species rarely produces seeds, but when it does, oblong brown seeds are dispersed when the pod splits open.
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
The stalk of the flower and individual flower stalks are green to reddish in color with fine hairs.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern Canada and U.S.A.
Distribution
Native to the USA: AL, AR, CT, GA, IN, KY, MA, ME, MI, MN, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI; Native to the Provinces of Canada: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec; Introduced in the USA: IL;
Wildlife value
Bees collect pollen. Flea beetles feed on foliage. It is the host plant for the West Virginia white butterfly and falcate orange-tip butterfly.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies
Play value
Attracts Pollinators; Wildlife Larval Host
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves; Roots
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Siliqua
Edibility
The roots may be eaten raw or cooked. When fresh, they have a hot and peppery taste. They may be used in salads or as a relish. The leaves may be added to salads or soups. The plant is a source of Vitamin C.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Cherokee Indians made a poultice of roots to treat headaches. They also used raw or boiled stems and leaves as vegetables. Reportedly, the Iroquois Indians used the rhizome to make an infusion for the treatment of tuberculosis.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Slope/Bank; Woodland
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Native Garden; Rock Garden; Shade Garden