Crinkleroot (Dentaria diphylla)
At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Perennial (hardy)
- Exposure
- Full shade
Cultivation
An easily grown plant, preferring a rich light moist soil and a shady position. This species is hardy to about -20°c.
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 3 weeks at 15°c. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame for the first two years, planting them out when dormant in late summer. Division in early spring or after the plant dies down in the summer. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Edible uses
Root - raw or cooked. Leaves - raw or cooked.
Medicinal uses
The peppery root is used as a folk remedy in the treatment of toothache. A tea made from the root is gargled in the treatment of sore throat, hoarseness etc. An infusion of the plant has been used to treat fevers in children.
Habitat
Rich damp woods and meadows.
Native range
Eastern N. America - Ontario to S. Carolina, Kentucky and Minnesota.