Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) is in the Poppy Family family (Papaveraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 16,353 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to April, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Dutchman's breeches: observations by month (U.S.)
About Dutchman's breeches
Dicentra cucullaria (Dutchman's breeches) is a perennial herbaceous plant, native to rich woods of eastern North America, with a disjunct population in the Columbia Basin.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Dutchman's breeches by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 2,132 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Ohio | 1,916 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 1,163 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Vermont | 1,055 | April | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 988 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Wisconsin | 951 | April | Apr–May |
| New York | 848 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Michigan | 843 | April | Apr–May |
| Minnesota | 762 | April | Apr–May |
| Maryland | 755 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Virginia | 702 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Missouri | 688 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Iowa | 569 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Kentucky | 529 | April | Mar–Apr |
| North Carolina | 383 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Tennessee | 334 | March | Mar–Apr |
| West Virginia | 302 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Connecticut | 237 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 182 | April | Apr–May |
| New Jersey | 142 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Kansas | 118 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Oregon | 107 | April | Apr–May |
| Arkansas | 95 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Washington | 82 | April | Mar–May |
| New Hampshire | 75 | May | Apr–May |
| Maine | 61 | May | May–May |
| Georgia | 58 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Nebraska | 55 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Idaho | 47 | May | Apr–May |
| Alabama | 46 | March | Mar–Mar |
| District of Columbia | 43 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Delaware | 37 | April | Apr–Apr |
| South Dakota | 19 | April | Apr–May |
| Oklahoma | 15 | March | Mar–Apr |
| South Carolina | 11 | March | Mar–Mar |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Poppy Family)
Bloodroot
California poppy
Squirrel Corn
Pacific Bleeding Heart
Greater celandine
Celandine Poppy
Creamcups
Little Gold Poppy
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 Dutchman's breeches?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to April.
Where is Dutchman's breeches most often seen?
The most observations come from Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania.