GARDENING
This plant’s name refers to the flowers in which the inner petals protrude from the outer petals, resembling a “bleeding heart”
An old-fashioned perennial, bleeding heart (Dicentra spp.) has graced prairie gardens for centuries.
The common name refers to the heart-shaped flowers in shades of pink, red or white in which the inner petals protrude from the outer petals, resembling a “bleeding heart.” Ranging in height from 25 to 90 cm (10 to 36 in.), they are characterized by attractive, ferny, deeply cut foliage and a graceful arching form. All are long lived.
They do best in full to partial shade in well-drained soil generously amended with organic matter. They do require even moisture, but are otherwise low-maintenance and fit in well in a woodland or shade garden and a mixed border. Propagate them by early spring division.
Fringed bleeding heart (D. eximia), native to the east coast of North America, is noted for its graceful arching form and ferny, compound, glaucous blue-green foliage. It is shorter at about 40 cm (16 in.) and longer blooming than other species and does not become dormant in mid-summer.
Fernleaf bleeding heart (D. formosa) is very similar in appearance to the fringed bleeding heart, but native to the west coast of North America. Its foliage is a bit greyer and it will do OK in full sun as long as it has even moisture.
‘Luxurient’ (a hybrid of D. eximia and D. formosa) flowers through most of the summer with cherry- to rose-coloured blooms and a height of 40 cm (16 in.).
‘Alba’, 30 cm (12 in.) in height, has white flowers.
Common, Japanese or old-fashioned bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectablis, syn. D. spetabilis) is a close relative native to Asia. The plants are larger at 70 to 90 cm (28 to 36 in.) high and often become dormant with yellowing foliage in the heat of mid-summer.
‘Alba’ is 60 to 90 cm (24 to 36 in.) with white flowers.
‘Gold Heart’ has pink flowers with golden foliage and is 90 cm (36 in.) tall.
‘Valentine’ has bright red flowers and is 70 to 90 cm (28 to 36 in.) in height.
CORAL BELLS, ALUMROOT
Coral bells (Heuchera spp.) describes the dainty, bell-like flowers in shades from pink to red. The older common name, seldom heard now, alumroot, refers to the high concentration of tannin in the roots, once used to stop bleeding.
A myriad of tiny bell-shaped flowers are held on slender wiry stems of 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24 in.) high above a basal rosette of foliage. The dark green, semi-evergreen leaves are rounded to heart-shaped with scalloped margins and resemble a geranium leaf in outline and texture. The woody crown slowly increases to form larger clumps but is never invasive.
Coral bells flourish in full sun to light shade (with less flowering in shade) in average, well-drained soil. Deadhead to prolong flowering. They are exceptionally drought-tolerant once established and lovely toward the front of a perennial border, as a ground cover or in rock gardens. Increase through division in early spring.
An amazing number of coral bells, with unique leaf colours and patterns, many in alluring purples, bronzes and silvers, have recently flooded the prairie market. Most were developed elsewhere and few were tested for hardiness in northern zones prior to their release. Almost none of these has proved enduring, most lasting only two or three years. A new series, Northern Exposure, with genes from our native Heuchera richardsonii, hopefully will combine beautiful foliage with a tougher constitution. Place them in a protected location.
For now, our best bet are the Morden hybrids, bred by Henry
Marshall who crossed H. sanguinea with H. richardsionii beginning in the late 1950s.
‘Brandon Pink’ (1957) has bright, coral-pink flowers in
July. It is about 60 cm (36 in.) in height, with dense, almost evergreen, faintly mottled foliage. It flowers freely, is vigorous, and drought and wind tolerant.
‘Brandon Glow’ (1967) has darker pink flowers in a more open panicle and is slightly shorter at 45 cm (18 in.) with distinctly mottled green and white foliage.
‘Northern Fire’ (1979), a seedling of ‘Brandon Pink’, has dark red flowers and is about 60 cm (24 in.) in height. It blooms for six weeks in early summer.
‘Ruby Mist’ has dark green, evergreen foliage and ruby red flowers on 45 cm (18 in.) stems. It has an even longer bloom period than ‘Northern Fire’.
Sara Williams is the author of numerous books dealing with gardening in cold climate. Look for Perennials for Northern Gardens in fall, 2020. Retired as the Horticultural Specialist, Extension Division, University of Saskatchewan, she gives workshops on a wide range of gardening topics throughout the Canadian prairies. This column is provided courtesy of the Saskatchewan Perennial Society (SPS; saskperennial@hotmail.com). Check our website (saskperennial. ca) or Facebook page ( facebook. com/saskperennial) for a list of upcoming gardening events. Boffins Garden by Rob Crosby – Jan. 29,
7:30 p.m., Emmanuel Anglican Church, 607 Dufferin Avenue. Free and open to the public.