April Flower of the Month
Bleeding Heart
"Dicentra Spectabilis"
An elegant clump forming herbaceous perennial with finely cut, fern-like foliage on graceful 2-3 foot arching stems topped with pretty heart shaped 1 Inch flowers.
Blooms: Late spring to early summer
Light: Prefers partial to full shade
Size: 2-3 feet high and 18-30 inches wide
Hardiness: Cold USDA zone 3 to 8 Heat zones 8 to 1
Soil: Moist, well-drained. When foliage emerges in the spring, time release plant food may be worked into the soil around the plant, as may additional compost.
Flower color: Pink or White. Outer petals are rosy pink and inner petals forming the heart’s point are white. ‘Alba’ and ‘ Pantaloone ‘ have all white flowers.
Foliage color: Soft gray green or medium green. Will die back to the ground as the heat of the summer arrives and remain dormant until the following spring. Making sure it has plenty of moisture will keep the foliage looking better longer. Do not remove foliage before it turns yellow or brown because this is the time your bleeding heart plant is storing food reserves for next years growing bleeding hearts.
Pests: Slugs and snails ( 0n new leaves ) Aphids
Diseases: Downy mildew, Verticillium wilt ,Viruses, Rust, Fungal leaf spots
Special characteristics: Deer resistant. Non-aggressive -will self seed some under moist conditions. Non-invasive. Not native to North America. Native to Siberia, Northern China and Korea.
Propagating: May be started from seed, division, cuttings or seedlings. Divide early Spring as they are emerging. Bleeding hearts often self seed. Seed can be sown outdoors in the fall as seeds need a period of freezing temperatures. To start seeds indoors, place seeds in a pot of soil. Place the pot in a plastic bag and place in the freezer for 6-8 weeks. Remove the pot and allow to germinate and grow in regular seedling conditions.
Blooms: Late spring to early summer
Light: Prefers partial to full shade
Size: 2-3 feet high and 18-30 inches wide
Hardiness: Cold USDA zone 3 to 8 Heat zones 8 to 1
Soil: Moist, well-drained. When foliage emerges in the spring, time release plant food may be worked into the soil around the plant, as may additional compost.
Flower color: Pink or White. Outer petals are rosy pink and inner petals forming the heart’s point are white. ‘Alba’ and ‘ Pantaloone ‘ have all white flowers.
Foliage color: Soft gray green or medium green. Will die back to the ground as the heat of the summer arrives and remain dormant until the following spring. Making sure it has plenty of moisture will keep the foliage looking better longer. Do not remove foliage before it turns yellow or brown because this is the time your bleeding heart plant is storing food reserves for next years growing bleeding hearts.
Pests: Slugs and snails ( 0n new leaves ) Aphids
Diseases: Downy mildew, Verticillium wilt ,Viruses, Rust, Fungal leaf spots
Special characteristics: Deer resistant. Non-aggressive -will self seed some under moist conditions. Non-invasive. Not native to North America. Native to Siberia, Northern China and Korea.
Propagating: May be started from seed, division, cuttings or seedlings. Divide early Spring as they are emerging. Bleeding hearts often self seed. Seed can be sown outdoors in the fall as seeds need a period of freezing temperatures. To start seeds indoors, place seeds in a pot of soil. Place the pot in a plastic bag and place in the freezer for 6-8 weeks. Remove the pot and allow to germinate and grow in regular seedling conditions.
