Pepper root Cardamine diphylla

The Two-leaf Toothwort is a native perennial in the USA and Eastern Canada. It typically grows in rich, moist, slightly acidic soils in woodlands or shaded meadows. This plant cannot tolerate deep shade cast by evergreen trees. The plant is an attractive groundcover in the autumn and winter. It is dormant in the summer and spreads via rhizomes. It makes a good groundcover under Cornus florida.

It is a member of the Brassicaceae or the mustard family and was formerly of the genus, Dentaria. The current genus is Cardamine. The name is derived from the Greek word, "Kardamon," which refers to cress in the Mustard family. The species name, diphylla, is Greek referring to "two-leaved." Toothwort refers to the rootstalk. 

In the spring the plant emerges upright measuring 8-16 inches tall with paired leaves that have coarsely toothed margins. The loose cluster of white or light pink flowers appears at the end of the stem from mid-April to mid-May. Pods or siliqua appear and open 4-5 weeks after blooming. Mature pods split open and release their seeds. The seedlings may take up to 3-4 years before they bloom. The seeds have low viability in storage, therefore the seed should be sown immediately after collection.  A moist, shaded seedbed is required. It may be best to multiply this plant by rootstock division, preferably when the plant is dormant. Care should be taken because the rhizomes are easily damaged or broken.

The Two-leafed Toothwort is similar to Cardamine concatenata or Cut-leaved Toothwort. The stems leaves of the Cut-leaved Toothwort differ because they appear in a whorl. 

The leaves and roots of the Two-leaf Toothwort can be eaten both raw or cooked.   

The West Virginia white butterfly uses the plant to lay its eggs. It is also the host plant for the falcate orange -tip butterfly. Flea beetles feed on their foliage. Specialized bees known as Andrena arabis collect pollen from Cardamines.