Deep shade and gently spreading

[JohnnyD]

This is a plant we have grown for some time but cannot remember its name. It is about 8" tall, grows in deep shade and we dont mind it a bit!
Any suggestions welcome.
JohnnyD

[Maggi Young]

Cardamine, probably   C. pentaphylla. I  lke this  plant  - not  quite  so far  on  here, I don't think - will need to check on it!

[Maggi Young]

 Actually, it  is  almost  exactly at that  stage  here  in Aberdeen. 

[JohnnyD]

Thanks Maggi - as ever a mine of info. JohnnyD

[Jon Evans]

Please note that the very similar Cardamine quinquefolia is a dreadful weed in some soils (certainly here) - vigorously spreading and absolutely uneradicable.  If you leave one root nodule, maybe 2mm across, it will reestablish quickly.  I am now experimenting with painting the leaves with glycophosphate, but I suspect it will need regular re-treatment.  Maybe you can take the view that like celandine, it is pretty, and does no harm because it dies down reasonably quickly, but other plants seem to decline and vanish in the areas where it is thickest.

[Maggi Young]

I really  must  investigate  the  similarities/differences  between C. pentaphylla and  C. quinquefolia !

I cannot  say the  plant is  any  bother  here  in  Aberdeen - minds  its own space  in a  civilised  fashion - perhaps that is the  main difference? Or  is life  just  tougher  for  it  here? 

[Gail]

This is C. quinquefolia in my last garden - probably 3-4 years after I bought it in a 9cm pot. Lovely thing, much appreciated by early bees and dies down soon after flowering but as Jon says, difficult to eradicate if you decide you don't want it. (I moved, which is probably the most sensible solution!)

C. pentaphylla, which has a more graceful arching habit, bought at the same time, was never a problem.

[Carolyn]

Pentaphylla, which I also think is your plant, Johnny, is a clumper and is well-behaved.

[Tristan_He]

Yep - definitely Cardamine pentaphyllos - a very pretty plant.

If it was quinquefolia it would be running all over the place with hardly any flowers, as you can see from Gail's photo!

[JohnnyD]

WOW! What a comprehensive and informative lot of answers. Thanks to everyone. JohnnyD