Dicentra 'Alba'

Dicentra 'Alba': Snow-White Hearts for Dark Corners

Rows of pure white hearts dangle from arching stems, glowing in the shade like fairy lights at a very tasteful wedding. 'Alba' does its thing, then vanishes when summer heats up. AN ICONIC EXIT.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Lamprocapnos spectabilis 'Alba' (formerly Dicentra spectabilis)
• Common Name: White Bleeding Heart
• Height: 60–90 cm (2–3 ft)
• Spread: 60–90 cm (2–3 ft)
• Flowers: Pure white, heart-shaped, hanging in rows along arching stems
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer (May to June)
• Foliage: Soft, pale green and deeply divided. It often goes dormant in summer heat.
• Features: Good cut flower

Where to Plant: Use it in a woodland garden, along a shady path, under a high tree canopy, or against a north or east wall where white flowers really show up. The foliage usually fades by midsummer, so leave room for later neighbours to fill the gap.

Companion Plants: Give white bleeding heart a moist, shady bed with ivory hellebores and plants that fill in once it fades. Helleborus 'Ivory Prince' opens ivory flowers at 30 to 45 cm from March to May. Heuchera 'Lemon Supreme' adds bright lemon foliage at 15 to 20 cm. Hosta 'June' brings blue-green leaves with a gold centre at 40 cm to cover the gap. Liriope 'Big Blue' edges the front with grass-like leaves and violet spikes at 30 to 45 cm.

Plant Care: Plant in part shade to full shade in moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Morning sun is fine if the soil stays moist. Amend heavy clay with compost so the fleshy roots don't sit wet over winter. Water regularly in spring while it's growing and blooming. When the leaves yellow in summer, that's normal dormancy, not a problem. Cut the foliage back once it fades and mark the spot so you don't dig into it later. It's a long-lived clump that's happiest left alone. Wear gloves when handling, since the sap can irritate skin and all parts are toxic if eaten.

History: Bleeding heart is native to northeast China and Korea, and plant hunter Robert Fortune sent it to England in 1846 after finding it in a garden on Chusan Island. Botanists have since moved it from Dicentra to Lamprocapnos, and the white form 'Alba' holds the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Final Thoughts: Plant hostas or ferns next door to fill the gap when it ghosts you. THE ONLY GHOSTING YOU'LL EVER FORGIVE.