Cardamine maxima, commonly known as Large Toothwort, is a deciduous perennial herb native to rich, moist deciduous forests and along stream banks in the Northeastern USA and Eastern Canada. It typically grows to a height of 1 foot (0.3 meters) and a width of 0.3-0.5 feet (0.09-0.2 meters). The plant features compound leaves with three leaflets and toothed margins, hence the name ’toothwort’. It produces clusters of showy white to pale pink flowers in the early spring, which are attractive to pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Large Toothwort is valued for its early spring flowers and its ability to naturalize in woodland gardens. It is often used in shaded border plantings, native plant gardens, and as a ground cover under deciduous trees. It prefers part shade to full shade conditions, consistently moist soil, and can tolerate slow drainage. While it is not drought-tolerant, it requires less maintenance in suitable environments. It is not known for any significant disease or pest issues, but it can be sensitive to overly dry conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0