Dicentra
Bleeding heart
- Height × spread
- 0.25m – 0.5m × 0.3m – 0.6m
- Position
- All conditions
Availability
Generally available in late Spring & early Summer
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
These are delicate, filigree foliaged plants that are much valued in spring both for their flowers and their foliage. The locket-like flowers are in most colours except blue whilst the foliage is in lovely tones of blue green and grey. They are often only 30cm in height and many are dormant during the summer. If they like the spot where they are planted they will gently spread and form highly attractive colonies. They are all plants that enjoy some moisture. The similar, beautiful, and larger Lamprocapnos spectabile forms used to be called Dicentra spectabilis and have an architectural beauty all their own.
- Flower colour
- Lilac, Pink, Purple, Red, Rose, White
- Foliage colour
- Blue, Green, Grey
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Dome
- Height
- 0.25m – 0.5m
- Spread
- 0.3m – 0.6m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Wild flower meadow, Small scale garden, Prairie garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- All conditions
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, most are hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Ground cover, Bee attraction
- Maintenance
- Easycare – low/no maintenance
- Hazards
- Yes, some poisonous
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Summer
Summer - early · Outdoors
Feed a general fertiliser
Where plants have moderate needs for nutrients, they can simply be given a general feed, fairly early in the growth season so that the growth has plenty of time to harden off before the cold weather.
Give plants a general boost with the application of a general purpose fertiliser which is spread around the root area of the plant, with amounts as directed on the feed label.
Found in
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