Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington, but also occurring from southeastern Washington; British Columbia to California, also in northeastern Oregon and adjacent Idaho.
Habitat: Moist woods, from the coast to mid-elevations in the mountains.
Flowers: March-July
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Bees, hummingbirds
Somewhat glaucous, scapose perennial from slender, brittle rhizomes, the scapes 1.5-4.5 dm. tall.
Leaves basal, numerous, long-petioled, nearly equaling the scapes, the blades ternately 3-4 times compound into ultimately linear to oblong segments.
Inflorescence of 5- to 15-flowered panicles on the scapes; sepals 2, ovate-lanceolate, 3-5 mm. long; corolla purplish-pink, 4-lobed, cordate-based, the outer lobes each with a saccate spur 2-4 mm. long, the tips 3-4 mm. long, the inner lobes 10-15 mm. long with a winged crest; stamens 6, in two groups of 3; style 1, slender; stigmas 2-lobed.
Capsule 2-3.5 cm. long and 3-4 mm. thick.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Dicentra formosa in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database
WA Flora Checklist: Dicentra formosa checklist entry
OregonFlora: Dicentra formosa information
E-Flora BC: Dicentra formosa atlas page
CalPhotos: Dicentra formosa photos