Dutchman's Breeches
Dicentra cucullaria
Dutchman's Breeches is a perennial for bulb layer, edging, suited to shade and partial shade and loam or acid soil, flowering Mar, Apr, May.
| Type | Perennial |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 25 cm |
| Spread | 30 cm |
| Aspect | shade and partial shade |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Hardiness | USDA 3a-8b |
| Pollinator-friendly | Yes |
| Pet-safe | No |
Where to use it in a border
At around 25 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 30 cm of room to spread, roughly 3 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 3a to 8b, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of shade, acid soil, pollinator-friendly plants.
Border Builder uses Dutchman's Breeches's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.
Flowering through the year
Worth knowing
- It tolerates acid soil but dislikes shallow chalk.
- It tolerates a shaded, north-facing spot.
- Not recorded as pet-safe; site it away from pets that graze if that matters to you.
- Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.
Good companions
Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:
- Alumroot 'Palace Purple'to edge in front
- Black Cohoshfor height behind it
- Cherokee Sedgeto edge in front
- Cinnamon Fernfor height behind it
- Coral Bells 'Autumn Bride'to edge in front
- Coral Bells 'Dale's Strain'to edge in front
Garden styles
Sources
Bloom timing and hardiness drawn from: