Going Native
Although Dicentra Eximia is not in bloom in February (or even
poking out of the ground!), the Bleeding Heart is a good topic for
the month of Valentines Day. The feathery leaves are blue-green in
color, with pink-to-red heart-shaped flowers growing downwards in
clusters. Two inner petals of each flower hang from the bottom of
the flower to look like a drop of blood falling from the heart.
Wild to the Northeast (whether a native to Massachusetts or not
depends on which book you read), this plant is very easy to grow.
Plant it in rich, moist, woodland soil, in sun or part shade. An
occasional fertilizing will keep it happy and blooming from late
spring to fall.
Dicentra Luxuriant, often seen in local nurseries, is a larger plant
with big sprays of flowers. Keep in mind, however, that this variety
is really a hybrid between Dicentra eximia, and Dicentra formosa
(which is native to the US Northwest). As a hybrid, it does well in
our gardens, but shouldn’t be planted in areas designated for
conservation or native plantings.
Cullina, William. The New England Wildflower Society Guide to
Growing and Propagating Wildflowers of the United States and Canada,
Boston, Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000 pp.90-92.
Barker, Joan. A Field Guide to the Wildflowers of North America,
Bath, UK, Parragon Publishing, 2006. p. 183.