Dicentra: photo of flowers in a flower bed, types and varieties

The exotic beauty of the dicenter can become a real decoration of the garden, if you correctly combine the existing varieties of the flower with other ornamental plants. Varieties and types of dicentras with photos and names presented below will help in their correct selection when landscaping a garden plot, landscaping, and composing a flower arrangement. In this case, you should know what conditions you need to provide the culture and how to properly care for it.

What does a dicentra look like?

Dicentra in nature lives in the Far East, in East China, on the Korean Peninsula and the North American continent. This exotic flower was brought to Europe from Japan at the beginning of the XNUMXth century and even then gained wide popularity because of the unusually shaped flowers. Looking at the dicentra flowers, it seems that tender defenseless hearts are suspended at the ends of the branches, split in the lower part, from where a tear or a drop of blood is about to fall.

Due to its romantic appearance, the dicentra has a second name, usually accepted among people. The s call it a “broken heart”, the British call it a “bleeding heart”, the Germans call it a “flower of the heart”. And the sentimental French even came up with an unfortunate love story associated with the emergence of this flower. A girl named Jeanette got lost in the woods. A young man helped her find her way home, with whom she immediately fell in love and dreamed of meeting him. One day, a wedding cortege drove through the village where Jeanette lived. In the role of the groom, the girl recognized her lover. Her heart broke from grief, Jeanette lost consciousness and died. This unusual flower grew in that place. The French call it “Jeanette’s heart”.

For a long time, dicentra flowers personified romantic relationships and were chosen among young people in love. Almost every grower planted this plant on his site. Several decades ago, due to the influx of a large selection of other exotic crops on the horticultural market, interest in the dicenter somewhat subsided. Currently, designers have turned their eyes to the flower, actively including different varieties of culture in landscape and flower compositions. Their work gave the flower a new life and the ability to evoke admiring glances with its unusual shape.

Description of dicentra

The scientific name of the dicentra has a completely justified translation from the Greek language – “double spur” because of the two spurs located at the petals of the corolla. The culture belongs to the subfamily of the poppy family.

A botanical description of a plant can be done like this:

• the height of the bush from erect or spreading stems, depending on the species, can reach 0,15-1,0 m;
• dicentral flowers are of different shades of yellow, pink-purple or pure white, up to 2-3 cm in diameter, flattened in the form of a heart with two petals bent at the bottom and a tear-petal folded into a tube;
• racemose inflorescences, drooping, located at the ends of the branches, bent into an arc and rising above the foliage, flowering lasts an average of 35-40 days;
• leaves are double-triple or triple-pinnate, large, openwork, green in color with a bluish tint, have a decorative appearance;
• nectar is stored in hollow formations – spurs located outside the petals;
• black dicentric seeds with a shiny surface and an oblong shape are located inside the seed box and remain viable for up to 2 years;
• the roots are fleshy, well developed, go deep into the soil.

Dicentra is interesting for gardeners because it does not require special care and can grow both in shady places and in open sunny areas. In the shade, flowering occurs somewhat later than in the sun. But the color of the petals is more saturated and lasts longer. It is not particularly demanding on the soil, although it prefers nutritious, moist and well-drained soil, which will ensure lush growth of the bush. Some species do not tolerate stagnant water and severe drought.

The plant is resistant to low temperatures, requires shelter for the winter only in severe frosts. A bush can live in one place without a transplant for up to 8 years. But it is desirable to rejuvenate it by dividing the rhizome after 4-5 years.

Reproduction dicentra in central Our Country in practice is possible only in two ways: cuttings and dividing the bush.

Dicentra in landscape design

The unusual appearance of the dicentra flower and its lush bushes are widely used by landscape and flower designers when decorating flower beds, borders, and alpine slides. The decorative look of openwork foliage with tassels of flowers towering above it will decorate the garden in a win-win manner both in single plantings and in group plantings.

Plucked dicentra flowers do not fade for a long time. Therefore, they are used in festive bouquets, they decorate rooms for celebrations. It is better to cut branches with unopened buds. In vases with water, they will quickly bloom.

Low-growing dicentra varieties look great in ceramic flowerpots or hanging planters. They fill empty shady places in gardens, as they grow well on the ground.

Poisonous dicentra or not

The most poisonous part of the dicentra is the root. But in some varieties, the leaves and stems are poisonous, as they contain alkaloids. Therefore, you need to work with the plant carefully, using special gloves. Skin contact may cause irritation. If a small amount of juice has got inside the body, then one should expect an upset of the gastrointestinal tract. In case of severe poisoning, the effect will affect the nervous system. Fleshy roots can protrude above the ground and be eaten by animals, which will not have the best effect on their health. Therefore, you need to ensure that the roots of the dicentra are under the soil.

Flowering dicentra

The blooming of the dicentra opens the flower season of the summer cottage in early spring and, depending on the variety, lasts differently. There are species whose flowers can be admired all summer, from spring to the first autumn days. There are other varieties that fade in a month and a half. The different flowering period of different varieties of dicentra allows you to select them in the design in such a way as to ensure flowering from May to September.

Dicentric flowers with thin petioles are located at the ends of curved branches, forming unilateral racemose inflorescences. They have the shape of a flattened heart, sometimes elongated with two petals diverging downwards. The color, depending on the variety, can be pink-purple, carmine, cream, red, yellow, pure white.

After the bush has completely faded, the entire upper part is cut off, leaving only low stumps up to 3 cm tall.

Types of dicentra

The genus dicentra includes several varieties of annual and perennial ground cover, herbaceous plants, shown below in the photo. About 20 varieties are known to science, but only about ten are common among flower growers. All of them differ in the size of the bush, the splendor of flowering, the color of the buds and the conditions of care. Grow as garden and houseplants. Some varieties are capable of forcing – an artificial exit from dormancy to the active phase of the growing season.

The center is magnificent

Species dicentra magnificent (Fumaria Spectabilis) is the most popular among other varieties in Our Country. It has another name – “gorgeous heart flower.” The description of dicentra splendid was made by the Swedish researcher Carl Linnaeus in the early 18th century. Spreading perennial reaches a height of 1 m. It has decorative pinnately dissected leaves with different shades of top and bottom on long (up to 12 cm) petioles. Racemes adorn the ends of the branches.

The magnificent dicentra grows well in partial shade, where flowering is longer and more abundant, which usually begins at the end of May and lasts a little more than a month. Then the upper part dies off, and the bush goes dormant until next spring. The species is winter-hardy, withstands frosts down to -35⁰With proper shelter of the bush for the winter.

Dicenter beautiful

The plant species Dicentra Formosa is native to North America. A low sprawling perennial that grows up to 40 cm and blooms with purple-pink hearts collected in inflorescences almost all summer from June to September. Green leaves on long petioles are collected in a basal rosette.

Has several varieties. Used for landscaping rocky gardens and as a ground cover plant, in natural parks.

Dicentra aureus

Under natural conditions, the species Dicentra Chrysantha can be found in Mexico and southern California, on dry mountain slopes. A spreading and tall shrub varies in height from 45 to 152 cm. It blooms from spring to early autumn with bright yellow buds. Growing this heat-loving species in the garden is not easy, as it is demanding on care conditions and does not tolerate cold.

Dicentra clobuche

In nature, the type of dicenter clobuche (D. cuccularia) grows in eastern North America, on poor sandy soil, as well as in the humid forests of Oregon and Washington. This is one of the smallest species. Dicentra grows up to 20 cm and has translucent white flowers with a yellow stripe and long spurs, as seen in the photo. Flowering begins in early spring along with the blooming of foliage.

The root system of the variety resembles a spruce cone, consisting of small nodules. Often this species is grown as a houseplant. There is a Pittsburgh variety with pink flowers.

Other types of dicentra

There are other types and varieties of dicenters, the seedlings of which can be purchased at a specialized store, where they are usually delivered from Holland. Flower lovers can grow all these varieties at home on a windowsill or a closed loggia.

You can also name at least 6 of the most famous types of dicentra.

• Excellent or exceptional (D. eximia) refers to undersized species. It grows up to 25 cm, blooms for two months with dark purple, pink or white flowers with gray-gray leaves on long petioles, resembling fern leaves. Used for winter forcing. Has a pink Boothman`s Variety variety.

• Climbing (D. scandens) – Himalayan liana with branches up to 2 m and yellow or light pink elongated flowers. In the middle lane is grown as an annual plant. An interesting frost-resistant variety Golden Tears with yellow flowers that have a pink tint. The buds of this variety bloom from June to autumn cold.

• Canadian (D. canadensis) looks like a clod. It is a low bush with pure white flowers on short pedicels, collected in inflorescences of 3-10 pcs. Blooms in mid-spring. It has bluish-gray pinnate leaves on long petioles, collected in a basal rosette. Combines beautifully with primroses.

• Stray (D. peregrina) has a thousand-year history of existence. It looks like a low, miniature perennial with strongly dissected leaves of a gray tint. They are collected in a rosette, has large elongated purple-white buds. Considered a pioneer of rocky, slag and sandy fields. Widely used for landscaping alpine hills and rocky gardens.

• One-flowered (D. Uniflora) so named because it does not create inflorescences, but blooms with single light purple flowers, covering the entire bush at home from late February to mid-August. It is difficult to grow, and in nature, due to its small growth (about 10 cm), it is difficult to find it among the grass. At home in America, this species is often called the “cow’s head” for the strongly recurved petals, reminiscent of the horns on the head of a Texas ox.

• Few-flowered (D. Pauciflora) grows on the slopes of mountains, at an altitude of 1300-3300 m, on the North American continent. It is erect stems 10-12 cm high with inflorescences of 2-3 light purple flowers. It looks like a single-flowered one, but the petals are less bent, therefore it has another name “cow’s short-horned head.” In Our Country, it is grown as a houseplant.

Varieties of dicenters with photos and names

The work of breeders made it possible to develop varieties of different types of this exotic flower, differing in the color of the petals, their size, and growing conditions. Below are photos and descriptions of shrubs of the most popular dicentra varieties.

Variety Aurora

It grows up to 35 cm, looks like a lush herbaceous bush with openwork leaves and delicate white heart-shaped flowers. It can grow in one place up to 8 years, which allows you to create country landscapes for a long time. The variety belongs to the species dicentra beautiful.

Variety King of Hearts

A hybrid obtained by crossing three types of dicentra: beautiful, vagrant and exceptional. Purple-pink flowers rise above bluish-green openwork leaves from May to August. The bush is low, grows well in the shaded corners of the garden.

Variety Bakchanal

Creates a lush bush up to 80 cm high, blooming with pink elongated hearts, collected in curved inflorescences, throughout the summer season. Green pinnately dissected leaves beautifully create a basal rosette, like a green flower vase. Winters well. The variety is a representative of the dicentra beautiful.

Variety Laxharient

Compact bush, does not exceed 35 cm in height. The variety looks elegant and bright with dark red or purple-pink buds on purple petioles among pale green foliage. The view of the dicenter of the beautiful variety Laxharient pleases flower lovers from mid-spring to mid-autumn. Feels great in shady areas of the garden.

Variety Alba

This variety is a variety of dicentra magnificent with white flowers. Reaches a height of 70 cm. Bushes are good thanks to their neat rounded shape and lush growth of feathery leaf plates, decorated with white drooping inflorescences. The variety does not tolerate frost well, needs shelter for the winter.

Grade Gold Hart

Gold Hart belongs to the magnificent dicentra species, bred by breeders in 2004. The variety is distinguished by an unusual combination of bright pink inflorescences against the background of golden decorative foliage. Dicentra is good both during flowering and after, attracting attention with the color of the leaves. Tall shrub grows up to 80 cm.

Variety Burning Hearts

A very beautiful hybrid, which was obtained from two types of dicentra: vagrant and excellent. Openwork light silver leaves create a spectacular contrast with bright red large flowers resembling flames.

Variety Valentina

The variety is the latest novelty of breeders. Distinguished by rich cherry-colored buds on purple stems. Creates drooping brushes from inflorescences up to 20 cm long. Openwork leaves have a maroon hue when blooming, which is later replaced by a bluish one. Dicentric bushes are large, branching, reach a height of 1 m. Unpretentious in care, belong to zone 4 (frosts down to -29⁰FROM).

What is dicentra combined with

An exotic shrub prefers shaded places and feels great under trees, in the shade of an apple tree, linden, bird cherry, next to the house, where the shadow at least occasionally falls on it. Dicentra goes well with the same shade-loving perennials.

Some species can grow well in a sunlit area. The dicentra in the garden, as seen in the photo, fills the flower carpet with tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, phlox. A flower with a bathed, lungwort, primrose, various types of fern will look great. Undersized dicentra species, together with forget-me-nots and primrose, will create a beautiful flower bed against the background of rubble or tiles along the garden path.

Photo of dicentra flowers in a flower bed

Many gardeners have noted that the dicentra is friendly with other flowers and does not mind being next to representatives of different cultures in a flower bed, which is clearly seen in the photo below. To create not only a beautiful composition, but also the right location, you need to carefully consider the selection of a place for an exotic flower.

Conclusion

Varieties and types of dicentras with photos and names will help you choose a variety of exotic plants that will fit beautifully into the landscape of the garden plot, emphasizing its advantages and hiding its flaws. Having information in advance about the conditions in which the flower can show itself in all its glory, you can acquire a culture of precisely those varieties that will grow without problems and delight with their flowering.