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Dicentra cucullaria

Dutchman's Breeches · Dutchman's Britches · Ear Drops

Family PapaveraceaeGenus Dicentra

Four white flowers shaped like upside-down trousers with yellow tips, hanging in a row from an arching stalk above ferny gray-green leaves.
FlowerUnknownPublic domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
3-6 in10-15 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
6-8 in15-20 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Pink, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
3-7Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Dappled Sunlight; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

38% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Dicentra p. 132Public domain
Show the original text
Dicentra (Fumariaceae). DS is either fatal or severely deleterious. J. Forrest reported that D. cucullaria germ. best with fresh seed in 70-40(21%)-70-40(7%) and 40- 70(38%)-40-70. A branching root system is formed. The seedlings then require several months at 40 before the cotyledons will develop at 70. During this time many of the germ. seedlings will rot if the the seedlings in the towel are not aerated with sufficient frequency. The exact requirements for inducing cotyledon development. need more study. -
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Dicentra p. 132. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    7 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

21% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Dicentra p. 132Public domain
Show the original text
Dicentra (Fumariaceae). DS is either fatal or severely deleterious. J. Forrest reported that D. cucullaria germ. best with fresh seed in 70-40(21%)-70-40(7%) and 40- 70(38%)-40-70. A branching root system is formed. The seedlings then require several months at 40 before the cotyledons will develop at 70. During this time many of the germ. seedlings will rot if the the seedlings in the towel are not aerated with sufficient frequency. The exact requirements for inducing cotyledon development. need more study. -
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Dicentra p. 132. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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