Summary
Cardamine concatenata, known as cut-leaved toothwort, is a small herbaceous spring ephemeral that typically grows 6-14” tall. This perennial wildflower grows from a slim, colonizing rhizome, resembling a string of beads, shallowly nestled along the surface of the soil. Basal leaves and a single flowering stem arise from the rhizome.
The deeply dissected and toothed foliage is arranged in a whorl of three about midway up the stem. Flowers are borne in a loose, terminal panicle, called a raceme, and are four-petaled, white to pinkish and about 1” wide. They elongate as they age and will dangle, presenting as bell shaped. Flowering occurs in early spring, before the canopy leaves emerge, and the plant goes dormant by summer. To spread, gently dig then divide the rhizomes from larger colonies during their dormancy.
Site Cardamine concatenata in partial shade in a humusy, moist, and well-drained soil. Companion, in a woodland setting, with other spring ephemerals such as bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Virginia spring-beauty (Claytonia virginica), and wedge-petal trillium (Trillium cuneatum) for complementing flower color and foliar contrasts. Zones 3-8.
More Details
- Plant Type
perennial - Sun/Shade Conditions
partial-shade - Foliage Character
deciduous - Soil Moisture
average - Flowering Period
early-spring - Soil PH
adaptable - Flower Color
white - Summer Foliage Color
green - Other Scientific Names
Dentaria laciniata
- Fall Foliage Color
dormant - Fruit/Seed Color
brown-black
Additional Information
Missouri Botanical Garden, Illinois Wildflowers, https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=caco26