Dicentra (Papaveraceae)
The genus that gives us the well known and beloved Bleeding Heart. It is a genus of only eight species mostly from North America and a few from Asia. We have two nice local species that light up the spring woods here in the Northeast with white flowers on small 6”-8” plants. D. canadensis, or squirrel corn and D. cucularia or Dutchman’s breeches. The flowers look like little puffy pants. Most prefer a cool woodland setting with evenly moist soil. They can tolerate more sun if the soil stays cool and it is protected from afternoon sun. One of my favorite from the bleeding heart genus is D. exima, a native to the southeast US. Unlike the Asian species, D. spectabilis, that often dies back in the summer, this version keeps its beautiful blue green, deeply cut foliage all summer long. The small, pink, sometimes white, flowers come on in the spring with a large flush and continue here and there through the summer with another flush when the weather cools in the fall. A topnotch native perennial that looks great all season long. This species is known as an alpine dianthus and actually prefers a rich sunny spot. Can even tolerate dry, sandy conditions.
AVAILABLE THIS YEAR
D. exima - mound of ferny foliage to 24”, spikes of pink “bleeding heart” flowers. Long flowering.
D. spectabilis - Pink and white flowers, dies back late summer.
D spectabilis ‘Alba’ - White flowering form of the above.
Sold in gallon pots.
The genus that gives us the well known and beloved Bleeding Heart. It is a genus of only eight species mostly from North America and a few from Asia. We have two nice local species that light up the spring woods here in the Northeast with white flowers on small 6”-8” plants. D. canadensis, or squirrel corn and D. cucularia or Dutchman’s breeches. The flowers look like little puffy pants. Most prefer a cool woodland setting with evenly moist soil. They can tolerate more sun if the soil stays cool and it is protected from afternoon sun. One of my favorite from the bleeding heart genus is D. exima, a native to the southeast US. Unlike the Asian species, D. spectabilis, that often dies back in the summer, this version keeps its beautiful blue green, deeply cut foliage all summer long. The small, pink, sometimes white, flowers come on in the spring with a large flush and continue here and there through the summer with another flush when the weather cools in the fall. A topnotch native perennial that looks great all season long. This species is known as an alpine dianthus and actually prefers a rich sunny spot. Can even tolerate dry, sandy conditions.
AVAILABLE THIS YEAR
D. exima - mound of ferny foliage to 24”, spikes of pink “bleeding heart” flowers. Long flowering.
D. spectabilis - Pink and white flowers, dies back late summer.
D spectabilis ‘Alba’ - White flowering form of the above.
Sold in gallon pots.
The genus that gives us the well known and beloved Bleeding Heart. It is a genus of only eight species mostly from North America and a few from Asia. We have two nice local species that light up the spring woods here in the Northeast with white flowers on small 6”-8” plants. D. canadensis, or squirrel corn and D. cucularia or Dutchman’s breeches. The flowers look like little puffy pants. Most prefer a cool woodland setting with evenly moist soil. They can tolerate more sun if the soil stays cool and it is protected from afternoon sun. One of my favorite from the bleeding heart genus is D. exima, a native to the southeast US. Unlike the Asian species, D. spectabilis, that often dies back in the summer, this version keeps its beautiful blue green, deeply cut foliage all summer long. The small, pink, sometimes white, flowers come on in the spring with a large flush and continue here and there through the summer with another flush when the weather cools in the fall. A topnotch native perennial that looks great all season long. This species is known as an alpine dianthus and actually prefers a rich sunny spot. Can even tolerate dry, sandy conditions.
AVAILABLE THIS YEAR
D. exima - mound of ferny foliage to 24”, spikes of pink “bleeding heart” flowers. Long flowering.
D. spectabilis - Pink and white flowers, dies back late summer.
D spectabilis ‘Alba’ - White flowering form of the above.
Sold in gallon pots.