Dicentra cucullaria – This little woodland charmer is another spring endemic. The white flowers do take the form of the old-fashioned Dutchman's breeches of yore, others liken them to teeth. Ours have never been taller than 3 inches though the apparent genetic capacity is 6 to 12 inches tall by the same in width. Forming colonies its cut gray-green leaves create patches of gray green lacy embroidery with a glaucous overlay. These mats are in general a lovely color contrast to neighboring foliage. And though a colonizing perennial Dutchman's Breeches has never squelched or, indeed, threatened any of its shady neighbors, The nativity of Dicentra cucullaria is Quebec to Minnesota, south to eastern Kansas, northern Alabama and Georgia. Open shade (a little early morning sun or very late day sun may be acceptable in more northerly applications.) Pant in organic soils that drain.