• Photo of Dicentra canadensis (Dicentra canadensiss)

Plant Profile: Dicentra canadensis

Taxonomy: Dicentra canadensis

Names

Squirrel Corn

  • Photo of Dicentra canadensis (Dicentra canadensiss)

Phonetic Spelling:dy-SEN-trah ka-na-DEN-sis

Genus:Dicentra

Species:canadensis

Family:Papaveraceae

Squirrel Corn thrives mainly in moist deciduous forests or rocky outcrops, particularly in hilly regions. This perennial herb flourishes in rich, loamy soils that retain moisture. In spring, it showcases charming heart-shaped flowers accompanied by delicate foliage, but by summer, it enters a dormant phase. It is an excellent choice for woodland and shade gardens, providing early spring beauty, and pairs well with perennials that bloom later in the season.

Seed germination can be a slow and challenging process, as the seeds are dispersed by ants. Alternatively, propagation can be achieved through root division by transplanting the small tubers. It's important to note that all parts of this plant can be toxic if consumed in large amounts.

Dicentra canadensis Feature Summary

Dicentra canadensis Image Gallery

Tags

#white
#poisonous
#white flowers
#pink flowers
#native perennial
#tuberous
#small mammals
#bumblebees
#NC native
#dainty
#delicate
#whistful
#heart-shaped
#spring interest
#native wildflower
#wildflower garden
#food source herbage
#food source nectar
#food source pollen
#food source hard mast fruit
#mammals
#butterfly friendly
#audubon

Similar Plants

Dicentra canadensis Feature Summary

Attributes
SE. Canada to N. Central & E. U.S.A.
CT , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV
Squirrels and mice are attracted to the root tubers
Perennial
Fruit
1/2 inch drooping seed capsules are a somewhat flattened oval. Each capsule divides into 2 parts to release several seeds. Fruits are available in June.
Brown/Copper
Flowers
Flowers hang upside down on a 6-8 inch arching stem in an elongated terminal cluster of 4-8 blooms. Flowers are white to very pale pink, heart-shaped and 0.5 in. long with 2 spurs on the upper side. Flowers bloom April-May.
Pink
White
fused petals
< 1 inch
Leaves
Basal leaves are triangular in shape and thrice divided to give them a lacy effect. They are pale and waxy underneath. They are 5 to 9 inches long and 3 to 7 inches wide.
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Other/more complex
> 6 inches
3-6 inches
Poisonous to Humans
Trembling, staggering, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, labored breathing only if large quantities are eaten. Skin irritation after repeated contact with the cell sap. The reaction is mild and lasts for a few minutes
Several isoquinolone alkaloids.
Seeds
Leaves
Stems
Sap/Juice
Flowers
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Native Plant
Poisonous
Wildflower
Arching
Erect
Cultural Conditions
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Less than 12 inches
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
High Organic Matter
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Native Garden
Shade Garden
Small groups
Butterflies
Songbirds
Bees
Small Mammals
Poisonous to Humans

Dicentra canadensis Attributes

Dicentra canadensis: Country Or Region Of Origin

SE. Canada to N. Central & E. U.S.A.

Dicentra canadensis: Distribution

CT , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV

Dicentra canadensis: Wildlife Value

Squirrels and mice are attracted to the root tubers

Dicentra canadensis: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Dicentra canadensis Fruit

Dicentra canadensis: Fruit Description

1/2 inch drooping seed capsules are a somewhat flattened oval. Each capsule divides into 2 parts to release several seeds. Fruits are available in June.

Dicentra canadensis: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Dicentra canadensis: Fruit Color

grass
Brown/Copper

Dicentra canadensis: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Dicentra canadensis Flowers

Dicentra canadensis: Flower Description

Flowers hang upside down on a 6-8 inch arching stem in an elongated terminal cluster of 4-8 blooms. Flowers are white to very pale pink, heart-shaped and 0.5 in. long with 2 spurs on the upper side. Flowers bloom April-May.

Dicentra canadensis: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Pink
filter_vintage
White

Dicentra canadensis: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Dicentra canadensis: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Dicentra canadensis: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Dicentra canadensis: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Dicentra canadensis: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Dicentra canadensis: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Dicentra canadensis Leaves

Dicentra canadensis: Leaf Description

Basal leaves are triangular in shape and thrice divided to give them a lacy effect. They are pale and waxy underneath. They are 5 to 9 inches long and 3 to 7 inches wide.

Dicentra canadensis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Dicentra canadensis: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Dicentra canadensis: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Dicentra canadensis: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Dicentra canadensis: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Dicentra canadensis: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Dicentra canadensis: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Dicentra canadensis: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Dicentra canadensis: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Dicentra canadensis Poisonous to Humans

Dicentra canadensis: Poison Symptoms

Trembling, staggering, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, labored breathing only if large quantities are eaten. Skin irritation after repeated contact with the cell sap. The reaction is mild and lasts for a few minutes

Dicentra canadensis: Poison Toxic Principle

Several isoquinolone alkaloids.

Dicentra canadensis: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Dicentra canadensis: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Dicentra canadensis: Poison Part

Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems

Dicentra canadensis Whole Plant Traits

Dicentra canadensis: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Dicentra canadensis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Dicentra canadensis: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Dicentra canadensis: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Dicentra canadensis: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Dicentra canadensis Cultural Conditions

Dicentra canadensis: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Dicentra canadensis: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Dicentra canadensis: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Dicentra canadensis: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Dicentra canadensis: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Dicentra canadensis: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b

Dicentra canadensis: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Dicentra canadensis Stem

Dicentra canadensis: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Dicentra canadensis Landscape

Dicentra canadensis: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Dicentra canadensis: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Dicentra canadensis: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Dicentra canadensis: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Dicentra canadensis: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees

Dicentra canadensis: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy