Scientific Name:
Dicentra formosa
Pronunciation:
dye-SEN-truh for-MOE-suh
Common Name:
Pacific bleeding heart
Family Name:
Papaveraceae
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial
Key ID Features:
Leaves 3-4 times divided, tip segments linear to oblong, pointed; inflorescence of 5-15 flowers in a drooping panicle; pinkish-purple; capsules pod-like, 2-3.5cm long x 3-4mm wide with shiny black seeds about 2mm long with elaiosomes for ant dispersal.
Habit:
Spreading
Form:
Mounded
Texture:
Medium - fine
Mature Height:
0.2 - 0.4m
Mature Spread:
0.6 - 1.0m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
B.C. west of Cascades, U.S. - northwest, U.S. - southwest
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Exposure:
Part sun/part shade, Filtered shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Humus rich, Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Spring interest, Woodland margin
Additional Info:
Google. Cultivars shown may include D. 'Stuart Boothman'.
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Dissected, Compound
Arrangement:
Basal
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Compound Leaf:
Tripinnate
Colour in Summer:
Green, Dicentra formosa 'Ivory Hearts' has heart shaped, ivory white flowers held above ferny, blue gray foliage, slightly fragrant.
Colour in Fall:
Brown
Shapes:
Ovate
Apices:
Acute
Margins:
Dentate, Incised
Inflorescence Type:
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
4
Corolla Shape:
Urceolate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Not showy, Pink (Dicentra formosa 'Ivory Hearts' has heart shaped, ivory white flowers held above ferny, blue gray foliage, slightly fragrant.)
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
May, Jun
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Green
Fruiting Time:
Jun, Jul
Additional Info:
Not showy, linear, pod-like with shiny black seeds
Bark or Stem Colour:
n/a
Organ Modifications:
Rhizomes
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Aphids or adelgids, Mildew, Rust, Slugs or snails, Wilt (Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant, Drought tolerant)
Course(s):
- HORT 1193/1293
Location(s):
- (BUG) BUG garden : dead?
- (GNH) GreeNHouse
- (NRY) NuRserY
- (PDW) PonD West : cv. Ivory Hearts
- (WLG) WoodLand Garden