Squirrel Corn - Dicentra canadensis

Phonetic: dy-SEN-trah ka-na-DEN-sis

Squirrel corn is a delicate perennial that typically grows 5 to 10 inches tall. It emerges from small, yellow, tubers that resemble kernels of corn. Squirrel corn thrives in partial to full shade and prefers moist, well-drained, soils . It flourishes in cool, shaded environments with consistent moisture but goes dormant by early summer. 

Squirrel Corn blooms in early to mid-spring, typically from April through May. Its heart-shaped white flowers, which dangle gracefully from slender stalks are specially adapted for pollination by long-tongued bumblebees and hummingbirds which are strong enough to pry open the outer petals to reach the nectar within. After pollination, Squirrel Corn produces small, narrow seed capsules that mature in late spring. The seeds contain fatty appendages which attract ants that carry them back to their nests—a process known as myrmecochory—thereby aiding seed dispersal.

In its native ecosystem, squirrel corn plays an important role for early season pollinators. Its nectar provides a vital food source for early pollinators when few other flowers are available.

• Hardiness Zone: 4-7
• Native Region: BONAP Map
• BONAP Map Key Color Guide: Map Color Key
• Sun Exposure: Part shade, Shade
• Flower Color: Pink, White
• Bloom Time: April, May
• Soil Type: Moist, Medium 
• Mature Plant Size: 5-10''H, 1'W
• Plant Spacing: 1'
  
• Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
• Advantages: Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Salt Tolerant 
• Landscape Uses: Shade Garden, Groundcover, Edging, 
• Companion Plants: Blood Root, Foam Flower, Christmas Fern