Although it looks delicate and has a feathery, light appearance, the Everblooming Fringed Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia) is one of the sturdiest plants I know.
This plant is closely related to Dicentra spectabilis which has arching sprays of pink heart-shaped blossoms that have made spring gardens lovely ever since a specimen was sent to the London Horticultural Society by Robert Fortune from northern China in the early 1800s.
Both dicentras, because of a curious mistake, are also known as Dielytra. Dicentra was accidentally printed “Diclytra” which in turn was changed by another error to Dielytra.
Dicentra eximia, unlike its relative which dies down in mid-summer, remains fresh and vigorous from early spring until frost. It thrives in shade where it produces quantities of tiny twin-spurred rosy pink blossoms clustering in racemes on rosy pink stems. It also grows well in full sun where its blossoms are more delicately colored and where it does not attain the 1 1/2 feet in height that it reaches in the shade. In sunny spots, it does not grow over a foot high.
This sweet spring flower is disease resistant. Insects will not so much as nibble its plumy leaves. It does not require fertilizing, it spreads rapidly from tiny bulbs and may be transplanted throughout its blooming season with no check to its blossoming.
It is a splendid rock garden plant and combines well there with Aubrietas. It is lovely in the woodland garden planted with the clear yellow of Celandine and the paler pink of the taller Wild Geranium. It is effective in the spring border with the foamy, blue-gray flowers of Jacob’s Ladder.
Charming spring bouquets may be composed of a few violets, a spray or two of lily-of-the-valley and Jacob’s Ladder and several sprigs of the foliage and flowers of Dicentra eximia in varying stem lengths.
by C Mosman
