Lamprocapnos spectabilis (Old-fashioned Bleedingheart)
Botanical Information
| Family | Papaveraceae |
| Genus | Lamprocapnos |
| Species | spectabilis |
| Synonyms | Dicentra spectabilis |
| Category | Perennials |
| Origin | Introduced by Robert Fortune, after the opium wars in China. Fortune was dispatched by the Royal Horticultural Society out of the Chiswick Garden; only one of the expeditions was funded by the society. Fortune spent many years and several expeditions in China collecting plants before returning home. He was a humorless, but tactful and determined individual and was incredibly successful in getting his collections back to England alive; quite a feat given the time period and the difficulties in day to day travel. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 3 - 9 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | 1a - Requires cool season protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H3 - H7 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | -40 -(-1) |
| Temperature (°F) | -40 - 30 |
| Height | 60 - 90 cm |
| Spread | 45 - 75 cm |
| Growth | Medium |
| Flowering Period | May, June |
Description and Growing Information
| Propagation | By division or root cuttings. |
| Cultivation | Humus-rich, moist soil in partial shade. Cannot withstand wet or dry soil. |
| Pests | No serious insect or disease problems. |
| Notable Specimens | The A.M. Cuddy Gardens, Strathroy, Ontario, Canada. |
| Leaf Description | The leaves are compound and consist of three leaflets, growing on green to pink stems that grow up to 90 cm. |
| Flower Description | Heart-shaped, 3–5 cm long, the flower is made up of pink outer petals and white inner petals, hanging in a horizontal raceme. |
Photographs
Lamprocapnos (Dicentra) spectabilis 'Alba'.
Lamprocapnos (Dicentra) spectabilis 'Valentine'
Awards
