Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)

With whimsical blooms shaped like upside-down pantaloons, Dutchman’s Breeches brings early-spring charm to forest floors. Native to deciduous forests of eastern North America, from Manitoba and Nova Scotia south to the Appalachians and Ozarks, it emerges just after the snow melts, growing in rich woodland soils and fading back by summer. This ephemeral wildflower is an essential early nectar source for queen bumblebees and a beloved sign of spring in eastern woodlands.