New Hybrid Bleeding Hearts

Dicentra 'Luxuriant' 

Bleeding hearts bloom in April into May (in Tennessee - zones 6 and 7). In cooler northerly locales, flowering may continue into summer.  The bright red, pink or white, heart-shaped, pendant flowers are supported on arching stems.

Bleeding hearts (Dicentra spp.) are truly one of nature’s glorious delights in the spring - early summer garden (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Old fashion bleeding hearts (D. spectabilis), indigenous to Asia, grow taller and wider compared to their North American counterparts wild bleeding heart (D. exima) and Dutchman's breeches (D. cucullaria).

A number of new cultivars have been released in recent years that are hybrid crosses between D. peregrine (native to Japan) x D. exima (native to eastern North America) x D. formosa (native to Western U.S.). These bleeding heart grow more compact and robust, are longer flowering, exhibit blue-gray foliage, and offer more floral color choices.

Four notable hybrid cultivars include 'Luxuriant' (D. eximia  x D. formosa  - deeply-cut,  grayish-green foliage and cherry red blooms. ‘King of Hearts’ (D. peregrina x D. formosa subsp. oregana x D. eximia) - very compact grower only 9 inches high and 14 inches wide. 'Fire Island' (D. peregrina x D. exima) - white tipped magenta red flowers from late spring into midsummer and 12 inch x 20 inch mound of frosty blue foliage. ‘Valentine’ - a vigorous hybrid form with showy cherry red/white tipped flowers.

New hybrid forms tend to grow more vigorously and are spaced 24-36 inches apart. Good soil drainage is essential for bleeding hearts. Plant in a humus-rich mildly acidic soil along with more hours of sunlight, preferably in the morning. Lightly mulch around plants in a woodland garden. In late winter feed a slow-release fertilizer at the low package rate.

In southern locales hybrid forms generally die back (go dormant) by mid-summer unless regularly irrigated. Crowded clumps should be divided either in very early spring or after flowering.

Spring flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Aphids, slugs and snails occasionally feed on the leaves. Plants are deer and rabbit resistant.

Bleeding hearts are great companions with other woodland plants such as ferns, lungworts (Pulmonaria spp.), brunneras, coral bells (Heuchera), and foam flowers (Tiarella).

Note: in recent times the genus Dicentra has been changed to Lamprocapnos.

Four Easy To Grow Ferns

Northern  maidenhair fern

Ferns add a delicate touch to your shade garden. Their foliage is very fine textured. Group three or more ferns 2-3 feet apart. Select the specific fern for the garden site, e.g whether it is likely dry or moist soils. Some grow surprisingly well in full sun, but most prefer partial to full shade. Select ferns according to their light and soil moisture requirements.

Here are four species which are easy to grow:

• Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)
• Autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora)

  

  Autumn fern

• Lady fern (Athryium felix-femina)
• Northern maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum) - (pictured)

All four ferns prefer a well-drained, highly composted soil and supplemental moisture during long summer dry spells. Keep soil near pH 7.0 (neutral) by occasional liming every few years if soil pH drops.

All four are not finicky, demonstrate good drought tolerance and grow in soil with little to no additional soil prep. Ideally, you should grow ferns in a richly composted garden soil along with adequate moisture over long dry spells. Bi-monthly feeding with a water soluble fertilizer such as Miracle-Gro™, Jack’s™, or Nature’s Source™ from April thru August will get all off to a good start in the first year.

Aucuba -- the "Holly" of the Shade Garden

On a recent trip to the Knoxville Botanical Garden, I was re-introduced to a shrub, not used as much as it should be - gold dust plant (Aucuba japonica). Hardy to garden zones 6b-10, aucuba is at home in part sun to heavily shaded areas in the garden. Direct sunlight, even in the darker winter season, will scorch the foliage.
I've enjoyed a "plain green" foliage variety in my landscape over the past 16 years. It is tucked among three Japanese maples. Its holly-like leaves and bright red berries (on female cultivars)become more noticeable after the surrounding maples have surrender their fall plumage.

Many gold leaf cultivars sparkle in an otherwise dreary winter garden. Many cultivars abound. I particularly like 'Picturata', exhibiting large bright golden splotches in the center of each leaf and splashed by tinier yellow specks.

Branches on this 8-10 foot tall shrub are upright in habit. Growing culture is the same as hollies - preferring a well-drained, richly composted and moist soil site.

Ferns in Your Garden

I recommend adding ferns in your shade garden. Ferns offer very fine textured foliage. Plant'em in clumps of three or more. Select the proper fern by your garden site, e.g whether it is likely dry or moist soils. Some grow surprisingly well in full sun, but most prefer partial to full shade. Don't buy a collection of different ferns for planting in one garden place. Instead, select them by their light and soil moisture needs.




Here are four species which are easy to grow:

• Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)
• Autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora)
• Lady fern (Athryium felix-femina)

All four are not finicky, demonstrate good drought tolerance and grow in soil with little to no additional soil prep. Ideally, you should them in a richly composted garden soil along with adequate moisture over long dry spells. A weak fertilizer solution monthly from April to August will get all off to a good start in the first year.

Northern maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum) - (pictured)- prefers well-drained, highly composted soils and supplemental moisture during long summer dry spells. Keep soil near pH 7.0 (neutral) by occcasional liming every few years if soil pH drops.