Dicentra Formosa

Description

Soft ferny hummocks of deeply divided, blue-grey leaves thrust up juicy, pink-tinted stems from which dangle, in spring and early summer, pink, heart-shaped lockets. This elegant plant spreads slowly from rhizomes, and is easily grown in cool conditions, making a beautiful contrast with, for example, hostas and tiarellas.

Sowing Advice

Seeds can be sown at any time but are best sown in winter or early spring to benefit from a cold spell in the wet compost to break their dormancy. We advise covering seeds very thinly with sand or fine grit to about the depth of the seed size. If the seeds do not come up within 6 to 12 weeks the damp seed tray can be given cold treatment in a fridge for about four weeks. They may still take very many months to appear, so please never discard the pot or tray.

Key Facts