Flower profile

Two-leaved toothwort

Cardamine diphylla

Two-leaved toothwort (Cardamine diphylla) is a flowering plant in the Brassicaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–May across the U.S.

Native to Vermont

Two-leaved toothwort is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Vermont it's most often seen in bloom in May.

27states where USDA records it

1,611VT sightings*

9,891U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Vermont

Quick look

Cardamine diphylla is a flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. It is a spring flowering woodland plant that is native to eastern North America.
From Wikipedia's article Cardamine diphylla, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Brassicaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 27 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Vermont. ^NatureServe
In Vermont, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,611 research-grade sightings of it in Vermont, ranking #48 among the 159 flowers on our Vermont list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Vermont, most flowering sightings come in May.

Flowering records by month in Vermont (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (400 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Vermont: Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Vermont. ^{Vermont E&T list}
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MS (S1), NJ (S2), SC (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “The roots may be eaten raw or cooked. When fresh, they have a hot and peppery taste. They may be used in salads or as a relish. The leaves may be added to salads or soups. The plant is a source of Vitamin C.” ^{NC State Extension}

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records two-leaved toothwort in 27 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

Vermont counties with USDA records: Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, Windsor.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Dentaria diphylla, Dentaria incisa.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 474 counties across 20 states; the most are in Michigan (65), Kentucky (59), Tennessee (57).

Other Cardamine on Bloomipedia (5): Cut-leaved toothwort, Milkmaids, Narrow-leaved bittercress, Purple cress, Nuttall's toothwort.

More from the Brassicaceae family (24 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Garlic mustard, Dame's rocket, Wild radish, Annual honesty, Western wallflower, Hoary alyssum, European searocket, Bitter wintercress.

More Vermont flowers

Garlic mustard

Alliaria petiolata

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in VT: May

Dame's rocket

Hesperis matronalis

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in VT: May–June

Red trillium

Trillium erectum

Native

🌼 Blooms in VT: April–May

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile CADI10.
iNaturalist, Cardamine diphylla: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Cardamine diphylla (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Vermont: Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022).
Vermont: Vermont Quarantine List, Regulated Introduced Plant Species Rule (eff. June 16, 2026).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Cardamine diphylla (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: Shirley Zundell via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.