Dicentra spectabilis
| Dicentra spectabilis | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 6 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 2' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Mid Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Dicentra spectabilis (common name: bleeding heart)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[1]. Stored seed should be sown in early spring[2]. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 6 months at 15°c[2]. Two weeks warm stratification at 18°c followed by six weeks at 2°c can shorten up the germination time[1]. Prick out the plants into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle, grow them on for their first winter in a cold frame and plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring.
Division in early spring[3]. Care must be taken since the plant strongly resents root disturbance[3]. Division is best carried out in late winter[4]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Root cuttings 7 - 10cm long in sandy soil in a cold frame[3].
Cultivation: Easily grown in a rich light soil[5]. Grows best in a light but good woodland soil, preferably not limy[6]. Prefers light shade and some shelter from winds[2]. Tolerates a sunny position if it is growing in a moist border but once planted the plant should not be disturbed since the roots are brittle[3].
A very ornamental plant[5], it is hardy to at least -20°c[7].
The seed is difficult to harvest, it ripens and is shed very quickly[1].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[8].
Range: E. Asia - N. China, Japan, Korea and Siberia. Locally naturalized in Europe[9].
Habitat: Woods and deep shady valleys[7].
Edibility: Young leaves in spring - cooked[10][11].
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The plant is potentially poisonous and can also cause skin rashes[12].
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rice, Graham. Growing from Seed Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan, 1988.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Bird, Alfred. Focus on Plants Volume 5. Thompson and Morgan, 1991.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Plants for Ground Cover. Everyman, 1990.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.