Dividing Dicentra Formosa
Garden Spider
Posted: Mar-28-2004 at 8:25am
I think this is a great idea! I always love to hear about new plants, and their cultivation. I have sticky notes all over my computer desk, with plant names, URL's, etc.
I'm not growing Dicentra spectabilis, but I am growing the PNW native species of Bleeding Heart, D. formosa. It's a wonderful, easy care plant, and in my Woodland Garden (trying to keep the WG to 100% PNW natives). I just planted the Dicentra last year, was rewarded with deep, rose-pink (almost maroon) flowers. I've never doene anything special to grow it, other than to water the garden during hot, dry weather. It's coming back again, just this month, and I'm hoping to get the same show again. A friend of mine would like a start--how and when would I divide this plant?
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Barb
I LIKE being crazy. It makes life interesting, and the dogs haven't complained yet. (Denise Groenewald)
Lisa A
Posted: Mar-29-2004 at 9:03am
Barb, according to Propagation of Pacific Northwest Native Plants, OSU Press "Pacific bleeding heart produces large rhizomes and is easily propagated by dividing the rhizomes after the plant has flowered or in early spring before flowering."
How old is your plant? If it is still fairly young, I'd be more inclined to wait until after flowering or until it goes dormant so you'd have a little larger plant at division. Consider it a little insurance against losing your original plant.
Well, lookie there, I just checked Debbie's native plant gallery and her advice is the same as the book's (she's so wise!). See Western bleeding heart for more information.
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Gardening in Sunset Zone 6, USDA Zone 8.
Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed also the soul. - The Koran
Garden Spider
Posted: Mar-29-2004 at 2:41pm
Lisa, thank you. I should have thought to look in the Rainyside resources--I forget there's a whole, 'nother part to this website beyond the forum. I just bought the plant last year, so I think I will wait to divide it. I love the plant, and haven't seen those deep, maroon flowers before, so I really don't want to lose it.
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Barb
I LIKE being crazy. It makes life interesting, and the dogs haven't complained yet. (Denise Groenewald)
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