Dicentra spectabilis
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BLEEDING HEART
Family: Papaveraceae
Pronounced: dy-SEN-tra spek-TAH-bi-lis
GROWING GUIDE
Geographic Origin:
Siberia, North China, Korea.
Plant Group:
Perennial.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: 1-9, 14-24.
USDA zones: 3-9.
Mature size:
Height: 4 feet (1.2 m).
Width: 18 inches (45 cm).
Flowering period:
Late spring to early summer.
Flowering attributes:
Pink heart shaped petals on the outside and white petals on the inside. Three to fifteen flowers hang on racemes on arching stems.
Leaf attributes:
Coarsely divided, soft green foliage.
Growth habit:
Clump-forming.
Light:
Partial shade; full sun if extra moisture is provided but better if shaded by hot midday sun.
Soil:
Moist, fertile, humus rich soil.
Feeding:
Side dress with compost or manure. Fertilize in spring with a complete organic fertilizer.
Propagation Methods:
Sow in containers and keep at temperatures of 64-71ºF (18-22ºC) for 2-4 weeks. Then move to reduced temperatures of 24-39ºF (-4 to +4ºC) for 4-6 weeks. Then move to temperatures of 41-53ºF5 (-12ºC) until the seeds germinate. | Root cuttings, 3-4 inches long in March. | Divide dormant rhizome after flowering.
Rainy Side Notes
Dicentra comes from the Greek words dis–two and kentron–spur, which refers to the flowers having 2 spurs. Spectabilis means spectacular. I like to pronounce spectabilis in the same fashion as Billy Crystal pronounces marvelous. I can hear him now. "You look MAH-va-lous dahling! You look spek-TAH-bi-lis, dahling."
Beautiful in the shade garden, D. spectabilis has foliage that mixes well with ferns and other shade tolerant plants. The beautiful, well-defined, pink hearts are a good reason to grow this Bleeding heart. Mine go dormant by midsummer, so I grow it tucked in amongst ferns and other plants, then the missing foliage is not too noticeable.
D. spectabilis is best grown in partial shade but here in the maritime Northwest we can grow them in full sun if we provide extra moisture. However, they do best when protected by hot midday sun.
Debra Teachout-Teashon
Photographed in author's garden.
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