Dutchman's Breeches

Dicentra cucullaria

This distinctively shaped nodding flower can found in late March on rocky, wooded slopes throughout the Appalachian region. The common name comes from the fact that the flower clusters resemble clothes hanging out to dry.

The generic name comes from the Greek for "two-spurred". Dutchman's Breeches are ephemeral perennials. This means that shortly after blooming, the foliage begins to die and, by June, they are completely dormant.