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Dicentra spectabilis |
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| | 'Valentine' |
| Common name |
bleeding heart |
| Family |
fumariaceae |
| Life cycle |
perennial |
| Flowers |
pink/white (spring) |
| Size |
2-3' |
| Light |
sun-part shade |
| Cultural notes |
well-drained garden soil, not too dry |
No garden would be complete without at least one old-fashioned bleeding heart. We have just a few, and look forward to their return every year. From the earliest emerging foliage to the splendor of the mid-spring blooms, they brighten up the spring garden. By mid-summer, the plants go into dormancy, their places in the garden taken up by bolder neighbors.
More recently I acquired a new specimen, a variety named 'Valentine'. Its flowers are closer to a true red, which makes for a dramatic contrast with the white "drops", and its leaves, at least when they emerge in spring, are darker with a reddish tinge as well. The plant stays somewhat smaller than the plain species. It has survived several seasons in our garden, and I'm quite pleased with it.
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| | 'Valentine' |
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| | 'Valentine' |
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| | 'Valentine's new growth in late April |
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We left this plant behind in our Pennsylvania garden (and wish it well); we don't grow it in Houston. One or more images of this plant are included in my stock photo catalog About my plant portraits
Visitors to this page have left the following comments| Jules | Jul 14, 2009 | If you love old-fashion bleeding heart . . try "Gold Heart". Beautiful chartreuse foliage, vigorous grower, and the same pink flowers as the original. Foliage stayed healthy all summer in the shade. Really lights up a shady spot!! |
| veronica utter April 2010 | Apr 23, 2010 | I had one plant like above for years in a wooded area and tried to get seeds with no luck until finally I got two plants which came from fallen seeds. I now have white as well in every garden. They are absolutely georgeous this year. Now, where they are planted they reseed profusely. Great addition to any garden. Mine are grown mostly in part shade. I did not realize they would be OK in the sun.
I just found your site tonight and it is great. |
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