Cut-Leaved Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata) is in the mustard family family (Brassicaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 5,460 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from March to April, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Cut-Leaved Toothwort: observations by month (U.S.)
About Cut-Leaved Toothwort
Cardamine concatenata, the cutleaf toothwort, crow's toes, pepper root or purple-flowered toothwort, is a flowering plant in Brassicaceae. It owes its name to the tooth-like appearance of its rhizome. It is a perennial plant woodland wildflower native to eastern North America. It is considered a spring ephemeral and blooms in March, April, and/or May.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Cut-Leaved Toothwort by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 661 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Kentucky | 602 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Illinois | 534 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 456 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Virginia | 402 | April | Mar–Apr |
| North Carolina | 361 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Indiana | 328 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Maryland | 242 | April | Mar–Apr |
| New York | 214 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Michigan | 206 | April | Apr–May |
| Missouri | 204 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Tennessee | 185 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Arkansas | 170 | March | Mar–Mar |
| West Virginia | 170 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Wisconsin | 156 | April | Apr–May |
| Delaware | 106 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Minnesota | 91 | April | Apr–May |
| District of Columbia | 62 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Vermont | 51 | May | May–May |
| Georgia | 47 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Alabama | 46 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Iowa | 39 | April | Apr–Apr |
| New Jersey | 28 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 23 | April | Apr–May |
| Mississippi | 17 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Kansas | 16 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Oklahoma | 13 | March | Mar–Mar |
| South Carolina | 13 | March | Mar–Mar |
| New Hampshire | 8 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (mustard family)
Garlic Mustard
Dame's Rocket
Annual Honesty
Milkmaids
Hairy Bittercress
Shepherd's-Purse
Western Wallflower
Wild radish
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Cut-Leaved Toothwort?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to April.
Where is Cut-Leaved Toothwort most often seen?
The most observations come from Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois.