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Fourteen Favorites Among the Perennials: Dicentra

Bleedingheart (Dicentra or Dielytra), beloved and cherished in old-time gardens, is coming into its own again and increasing numbers of nurserymen are listing it each year among their hardy perennials. It combines well with some of the Darwin tulips, and no spring garden is really complete without its bloom.

It should preferably be planted in the autumn, early enough so that the plants may become well established before winter sets in. Bleedingheart is very hardy and is delightfully accommodating in its requirements of site and soil, for although it loves a shady, sheltered corner it does almost equally well in the open flower border in full sun. Old plants can be very easily lifted and divided in the autumn.

The two most commonly grown varieties are Dicentra spectabilis, which grows to a height of about twenty inches and blooms from late April well into June, and Dicentra exima, which is of more dwarf habit and flowers somewhat later. The latter is sometimes spoken of as "plumy" bleedingheart, as its foliage is very finely cut. It is particularly well suited for planting on rock walls and in rock gardens.