Dicentra spectabilis ‘white gold’, commonly known as bleeding heart, has been renamed to Lamprocapnos spectabilis. All very confusing! Although it has a delicate appearance it is actually quite a tough plant being reliably perennial.
Although the pink variety is found in many cottage gardens the white variety is popular in tropical gardens. It is particularly useful to brighten up shady areas with it’s yellow foliage. The bright white heart shaped flowers are an added bonus in the late spring.
It prefers a neutral or slightly acid soil and moist humus rich soil.
Despite having quite fragile roots and not being fond of being moved you can divide larger clumps in the autumn or spring and they will recover.
Dicentras like a well drained soil. When planting make sure that the crown is a few centimeters below the ground level.
The plant does well in the shade but the best flowers are produced when the plant has morning sun but afternoon shade. They can be deadheaded to improve their appearance by removing the stem. Deadheading does not prolong the flowering time of the plant.
Do not be tempted to cut back the foliage early as the plant requires it to feed the rhizome like roots for the following year.
