The leaves and flower stems die back in late spring after the seed has ripened, and the bulblets remain dormant through the summer.

In the fall, starch in the bulblets is converted to sugar, and the beginnings of the next spring's leaves and flowers develop below ground.

[3] The western populations have sometimes been separated as Dicentra occidentalis on the basis of often somewhat coarser growth, but do not differ from many eastern plants in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

[3] Dicentra cucullaria is dependent on bumblebees (especially Bombus bimaculatus, a common eastern North American species) for cross-pollination.

[6] When consumed by livestock the effect of psychoactive compounds apomorphine, protoberberine, and protopine, found in all parts of the plant, has led ranchers to refer to it as 'Staggerweed'.

Native Americans and early white practitioners considered this plant useful for syphilis, skin conditions and as a blood purifier.