Broadleaf Toothwort
Cardamine diphylla
Last reviewed: August 2026
Cardamine diphylla, or broadleaf toothwort, is a spring woodland forb that blooms white flowers in April and May, growing best in part shade with medium, evenly moist soil.
Toxicity unknown
Broadleaf Toothwort (Cardamine diphylla) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
6"–12" H × 6"–12" W
Bloom
Apr, May
Native to
AL, AR, CT, GA and 19 more states
Pollinators
bees, flies
Before you buy
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Cardamine diphylla, commonly known as two-leaved toothwort or crinkleroot, is a native spring wildflower that produces delicate white four-petaled flowers above distinctive toothed leaves. This woodland perennial emerges early in spring, blooms for several weeks, then goes dormant by midsummer as trees leaf out overhead.
Growing Broadleaf Toothwort
Grow Broadleaf Toothwort in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 6 to 12 inches tall and spread 6 to 12 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Broadleaf Toothwort takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Goes completely dormant by midsummer leaving bare patches
- Spreads by underground rhizomes which may concern neighbors
- Appearance too wild and ephemeral for formal landscaping
Wildlife value
The early spring flowers provide nectar for native bees and flies when few other food sources are available. Seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals.
Common questions
- When does broadleaf toothwort bloom?
- Cardamine diphylla flowers in April and May, putting up its white blooms early in the season before the deciduous forest canopy fully leafs out.
- What growing conditions suit broadleaf toothwort best?
- This forb does well in part shade with medium, consistently moist soil, conditions typical of the rich woodland floor it grows on in eastern forests.
- What insects visit broadleaf toothwort flowers?
- Bees and flies are the main visitors to the small white flowers of Cardamine diphylla during its April to May bloom period.
- Does broadleaf toothwort stay green year round?
- No, it is deciduous and dies back to the ground after its spring bloom, behaving as a woodland spring ephemeral.
- Is Broadleaf Toothwort HOA-friendly?
- Broadleaf Toothwort takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
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