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: Phlox divaricata drifts below with lavender flowers in April and May, leading into the white hearts. Hosta 'Liberty' adds broad leaves and lavender flowers in June and July, filling in as the bleeding heart goes dormant. For late height, Cimicifuga 'Pink Spike' rises to 120 to 150 cm with pink spires from August to October. This trio keeps a shady bed looking full from spring to fall.

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.