Cardamine angustata
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cardamine angustata var. ouachitana
- Cardamine heterophylla
- Dentaria heterophylla
- Description
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Slender toothwort is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the mustard family (Brassicaceae) native to the eastern United States. In North Carolina, it is mainly found in the northern Piedmont growing on the lower slopes of mixed hardwood forests.
Slender toothwort prefers part shade to shade in humus-rich, slightly acidic, moist soils. They grow up to 16 inches tall from a rhizome. Propagation is by seed or division.
The short terminal cluster of 4-petaled white flowers often has a purplish-pink tint. They appear late winter to early spring after the basal leaves, which can be seen as early as January. The stem leaves are distinctly different from the basal leaves. The plant then produces seeds in April to May and dies to the ground.
Slender toothwort can be used in native, woodland or shade gardens, and along shady ponds or streams.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cardamine
- Species:
- angustata
- Family:
- Brassicaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern United States
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , DC , DE , GA , IN , KY , MD , MS , NC , NJ , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , VA , WV Canada: NS
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 2 in. - 1 ft. 4 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is a linear green pod
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers appear in late winter to early spring on short terminal racemes. They are up to 1 inch across with 4 petals and are white but often tinged purplish-pink.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The basal leaves consist of three diamond or oval-shaped leaves with toothed margins. There are 2 to 3 whorled stem leaves that are divided into 3 leaflets. They are narrow-lance shaped to linear and toothed or entire. Basal leaves can be up to 9 inches long. The stem leaves are only up to 2.5 inches long.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems smooth (occasionally hairy), often red-tinged.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Riparian
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Shade Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
