Horticulture/Dicentra

Dicentra is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Fumariaceae, native to Asia and North America. The common name Bleeding heart is used for many of the species. This name comes from the appearance of the pink flower, which resembles the shape of a heart with a drop of blood descending.

All members of the genus are toxic if eaten by humans, housepets, or livestock.

Description
Foliage is basal and alternate, pinnately dissected or compound, lacking stipules, and without hairs. Stems contain a thick, clear juice. Roots are rhizomes, tubers, taproots, or fibrous. Fruit an elongated capsule.

Many species are late ephemerals, dying down in mid to late summer.

Growing conditions
Deep, rich soils in light shade to shade.

Varieties

 * ../Dicentra canadensis/ - Squirrel-corn
 * ../Dicentra cucullaria/ - Dutchman's-breeches
 * ../Dicentra eximia/ - Wild Bleedinghearts, Fringed Bleeding Heart
 * ../Dicentra formosa/ - Western or Pacific Bleeding Heart
 * ../Dicentra pusilla/
 * ../Dicentra scandens/
 * ../Dicentra spectabilis/ - Bleeding Heart

Maintenance
Cut back when leaves are fully yellowed.

Propagation
Division or seed

Pests and diseases
../Leaf Spots/ ../Downy Mildews/ Peronospora dicentrae ../Wilts/ ../Stem Rots/ ../Rusts/ ../Viruses/ ../Slugs and Snails/
 * ../Fusarium/
 * ../Sclerotinia sclerotiorum/
 * ../Verticillium/
 * Pellicularia rolfsii
 * Cerotelium dicentrae (alt host Wood Nettles)