Botanical	Dicentra 'Luxuriant'
Common Name	Bleeding Heart
Family	Fumariaceae
Size	2-3 eye
Height	12-15"
Spacing	15-18"
Hardiness	Zones 4-9
Exposure	Shade to partial shade
Foliage	Blue-green, fern-like and segmented
Flower	Cherry-red
Bloomtime	May - October

General Characteristics: This bleeding heart cultivar features deeply-cut, fern-like, grayish-green foliage which persists throughout the growing season and cherry red, nodding, heart-shaped flowers carried above the foliage on long, leafless, leaning stems. Protruding inner petals of the flower purportedly appear to form a drop of blood at the bottom of each heart-shaped flower. The plant typically grows to 15" tall. Bloom begins in late spring. In cooler climates, flowering may continue throughout the summer, but in the hotter climates, the flowering will generally stop in hot weather, with a possible rebloom occurring when the weather cools in late summer or early fall. Given adequate moisture, foliage remains attractive in summer and may produce an attractive groundcover effect. Similar in appearance to the showy, old garden bleeding heart from Asia, D. spectabilis.

Planting Instructions: May be planted in any well-drained soil. Dig a hole large enough to encompass the roots without bending or circling. Set the plant in place so the crown (part of the plant where the root meets the stem) is about 1-2 inches below the soil surface. Cover with soil to the original soil surface and water thoroughly. Easily grown in average, medium wet, well-drained soil in part shade. Prefers moist, humusy soils. Intolerant of wet soils in winter and dry soils in summer. Does poorly in the hot and humid conditions of the deep South.

Pests or Diseases: No serious insect or disease problems. Some susceptibility to aphid infestations.