Dicentra cucullaria

RHS Plant Profile
Dutchman's breeches

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Dutchman's breeches RHS

Other common names

bachelor's breeches, boys and girls, breeches flower, butterfly banners, fly flower, Indian boys and girls, monk's hood, pantalon flower, soldier's cap, staggerweed, turkey corn, white eardrop, white heart

Herbaceous Perennial
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A compact clump-forming, tuberous perennial with deeply lobed or cut, blue-green leaves up to 25cm long and producing white (or occasionally pink), yellow to greenish-yellow tipped flowers in early spring

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Papaveraceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Potentially harmful
All parts cause stomach ache if ingestedthe foliage may aggravate skin allergies. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus
Dicentra can be rhizomatous or tuberous perennials with attractively divided leaves and pendent, heart-shaped flowers, usually in arching panicles or racemes
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
E & N USA

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in gritty, well-drained but humus-rich, preferably neutral or slightly alkaline soil in partial shade. The foliage dies down soon after flowering. It is best kept almost dry during summer dormancy

Propagation

Propagate by division in early spring or after the leaves have died down. Propagate by seed - sow seed as soon as ripe or in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Banks and slopes
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Garden edging
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be suscceptible to slugs and snails damaging emerging foliage

Diseases

Generally disease-free