Dicentra formosa ‘ Bacchania’
Lastly we have Dicentra scandens, renamed Dactylicapnos scandens. Although a truly magnificent sight to see in full bloom, this chap seems to have gone out of its way to be different. Unlike the others, its primary flowering time is summer. It is a vigorous climber which can reach 4m and the flowers are bright yellow! I have considered all the evidence and in this instance I can quite understand why it has been thrown out of the club. However, I would have preferred something a little easier to pronounce! The dicentra have a wonderful secret. Before we go further, I must warn you that we are going to get rather technical, so you had better pay attention. You will be tested later. Bleeding Heart seed is dispersed by ants. This process is called myrmecochory. The ants do not do this for love or money, but for food. Each seed has a fleshy (and delicious) organ attached called an elaiosome. Once the seed has been transported back to the nest the ants tuck in, not harming the seed, which remains in the nest to germinate in an enriched environment. Now I call that clever! If you wish to propagate dicentra, and you do not have your own highly trained ants, then it is best to divide the www.countrygardener.co.uk
plants in spring. They can also be easily grown from seed. I do not recommend that you eat the elaiosome first! They have shallow roots so dry out easily, especially in their dormant period. An annual mulch of organic matter will help prevent this. Whatever you wish to call them, old name, new name or common name, these are splendid plants for the garden. Describing Lamprocapnos spectabilis (Dicentra spectabilis) in her spring garden, Gertrude Jekyll wrote: “Its graceful growth arching out over the lower stature of pink tulips and harmonising charmingly with the pinkish-green of the tree peonies just behind.” When the first searching hands of fernlike foliage break the soil, you can be confident that spring is well and truly on the way. And you are in for a treat! Bibliography Gertrude Jekyll’s Colour Schemes for the Flower Garden First published 1908 Top: Dicentra canadensis Middle: Dactylicapnos scandens Bottom: Dicentra cucullaria 11