Description

Cardamine concatenata, Cutleaf Toothwort, Wholesale Native Bare Root Perennial

Cardamine concatenata
Common Name(s): Cut-leafed ToothwortPepper Root
Previously known as: Cardamine laciniataDentaria concatenata Michx.Dentaria laciniataDentaria laciniata var. coalescensDentaria laciniata var. integra
Phonetic Spelling
den-TAY-ree-uh la-sin-ee-AH-ta
Description
The Cut-leafed Toothwort or Pepper Root is a native perennial wildflower found in the woodlands of eastern Canada and the central and eastern United States. It typically grows in rich soil that is moist and well-drained. They can tolerate some seasonal flooding. They are a light leafy autumn and winter ground cover. Their small white flowers emerge in the spring before the deciduous trees have leafed out. The plant is dormant in the summer.

It is a member of the Brassicaceae or mustard family. The genus, Cardamine, is Greek for “Kardamon” and translated means “cress.” The species name, concatenata, is Latin and translated means “linked together in a chain.” The rhizomes of this plant are oblong, fleshy, and jointed. They appear to link like a string of beads. The common name, Pepper Root, refers to its spicy and radish flavor of the rhizomes. The name, Cut-leafed Toothwort, refers to its toothlike projections it’s underground stems.

This plant produces basal leaves and fertile shoots. The basal leaves help to store energy for the next year’s fertile shoots. The fertile shoot is made of a single flower and stalk which has a whorl of 3 leaves. The leaves are deeply cut into three lobes. The flowers appear as terminal clusters of four cross-shaped petals blooming atop the stem. Long, slender, green pods appear. They open in 4-5 weeks and release 10-14 small seeds.

The Cut-leafed Toothwort is propagated via seed or rhizomes. The seeds lose viability quickly when stored. It is best to sow the seeds immediately after collection. Seedlings bloom in 3-4 years. The rhizomes are fragile, and it is best to divide them when the plant is dormant

The plant is typically disease and pest free. It is a good food source for the White-footed mouse as well as the caterpillar of the Mustard White and the West Virginia White butterfly. The flower provides nectar for honeybees and bumblebees.

The Cut-leafed Toothwort combines well in perennial or woodland gardens to provide early spring interest. When the plant goes dormant in the summer other perennials will step in to cover for the toothwort. The plant would add interest to any informal or cottage gardens.

• Genus:

  Cardamine

  Species:

  concatenata

  Family:

  Brassicaceae

  Uses (Ethnobotany):

  The Iroquois Indians used this plant for food and ate the roots either raw or boiled. The plant was also used for medical treatment, including heart conditions, colds, headaches, and stomach pains.

  Life Cycle:

  Perennial

  Recommended Propagation Strategy:

  Division

  Seed

  Country Or Region Of Origin:

  East Canada, Central and Eastern United States

  Distribution:

  Canada–Ontario and Quebec; United States–AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NE, NH, NJ, NC, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV

  Wildlife Value:

  The plant is a food source for the white-footed mouse. The nectar of the flowers attracts honey bees and bumblebees. Some early butterflies may also be attracted to the flower for its nectar. The caterpillars of the Mustard White and the West Virginia White butterfly use the foliage as a food source.

  Edibility:

  The roots of the plant are spicy and have a radish flavor. They may be sliced and used in salads.

  Dimensions:

  Height: 0 ft. 6 in. – 1 ft. 3 in.

  Width: 0 ft. 6 in. – 1 ft. 0 in.

• Whole Plant Traits:

  Plant Type:

  Native Plant

  Perennial

  Wildflower

  Habit/Form:

  Erect

  Growth Rate:

  Slow

  Maintenance:

  Low

  Medium

• Cultural Conditions:

  Light:

  Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)

  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:

  Good Drainage

  Moist

  Available Space To Plant:

  Less than 12 inches

  NC Region:

  Coastal

  Mountains

  Piedmont

  USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:

  3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

• Fruit:

  Fruit Color:

  Green

  Display/Harvest Time:

  Spring

  Fruit Type:

  Siliqua

  Fruit Length:

  < 1 inch

  Fruit Width:

  < 1 inch

  Fruit Description:

  After flowering, erect, elongated, pod-like siliques and are about 1 inch long. The pod splits open about 4-5 weeks after blooming. Each siliqua contains 10-14 small, brown, flat, ovoid-shaped seeds.

• Flowers:

  Flower Color:

  Pink

  White

  Flower Inflorescence:

  Raceme

  Flower Value To Gardener:

  Showy

  Flower Bloom Time:

  Spring

  Flower Shape:

  Bell

  Cross

  Flower Petals:

  4-5 petals/rays

  Flower Size:

  < 1 inch

  Flower Description:

  In the early spring, the flowers bloom as terminal clusters of four white cross-shaped petals atop the erect stem. Tinges of pink or lavender may be seen on the petals. They have 4 sepals and 6 stamens. The flower’s diameter is 3/4 inch. Blooming typically occurs in early spring from March to May before the deciduous trees have leafed out. The blooming period is about 2 weeks.

• Leaves:

  Leaf Color:

  Gray/Silver

  Green

  Leaf Type:

  Simple

  Leaf Arrangement:

  Whorled

  Leaf Shape:

  Lanceolate

  Leaf Margin:

  Dentate

  Hairs Present:

  No

  Leaf Length:

  1-3 inches

  Leaf Width:

  1-3 inches

  Leaf Description:

  The plant has a rosette of basal leaves on the unbranched stem. In the middle of each stem, there is a whorl of three sharply toothed, lance-shaped leaves. Each leaf is about 3 inches long and wide. The leaves are grayish-green to medium green and deeply cleft into 3-5 narrow lobes. They have dentate teeth along the margins and appear nearly opposite of each other. The leaves turn yellow before the plant goes dormant during the summer.

• Stem:

  Stem Color:

  Gray/Silver

  Green

  Stem Is Aromatic:

  No

  Stem Form:

  Straight

  Stem Description:

  The erect stem rises directly from the rhizomes and is grayish-green to medium green in color. The stem is glabrous to slightly pubescent. The flower appears at the terminal end of the stem. The stem is unbranched and has a whorl of leaves just above the middle of the stem.

• Landscape:

  Landscape Location:

  Naturalized Area

  Slope/Bank

  Woodland

  Landscape Theme:

  Native Garden

  Rock Garden

  Design Feature:

  Border

  Attracts:

  Bees

  Butterflies

  Pollinators

  Specialized Bees 

Cardamine concatenata, Cutleaf Toothwort, Wholesale Native Bare Root Perennial

(requires a minimum purchase of 5 plants)

5 or more $7.50 each
25 or more $4.00 each

50 or more $3.50 each

300 or more $2.50

Wholesale pricing is based on quantity.

For Shipping, Install and additional info please see “About Bare Root“.

Native bare root perennials are dug and shipped while dormant, mid November to early spring.

See all available Native Bare Root Perennials

Check the native status of this species for your area : https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=CACO26

(requires a minimum purchase of 5 plants)

5 or more $7.00 each
25 or more $3.75 each
50 or more $2.10 each
300 or more $1.95 each

Wholesale pricing is based on quantity.

For Shipping, Install and additional info please see “About Bare Root“.

Native bare root plants are dug and shipped while dormant, mid November to early spring.

See all available Native Bare Root Perennials