The Dawes Arboretum

Common name: Dutchman's-breeches

Family: Papaveraceae (poppy family)

Synonym: Fumaria cucullaria

Distribution: North America

Hardiness: USDA Zone 3

Life form: Herbaceous perennial

Comments: Dutchman's-breeches is so named for its whimsical white flowers that look like upside-down pantaloons. It generally blooms through late March and April, often found in mesic woodlands along gentle slopes, ravines, or streamside ledges. The foliage is also quite attractive being very feathery and grayish green in color. It is a short plant, growing only up to 8" tall. Another native wildflower, squirrel-corn (Dicentra canadensis), is related and the two look quite similar, but a clue to telling them apart is that the flowers of squirrel-corn are more rounded and narrow than those of Dutchman's-breeches. Plants are pollinated by bumblebees and ants aid in seed dispersal.