bleeding heart
Dicentra 'Red Fountain'
Overview
Dicentra 'Red Fountain' is an amazing plant species. With its arching stems and bright red-pink heart shaped flowers, it’s a sight to behold. The blooms appear in late spring and continue through the summer attracting hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators. Its lush foliage is made up of dainty, finely divided green leaves that provide an elegant backdrop to the colorful flowers. It performs best in moist, well-drained soil in partial to full shade where the soil remains evenly moist. This hardy plant performs best in cooler climates and can even tolerate some drought conditions. A true show-stopper, Dicentra 'Red Fountain' never fails to add an eye-catching touch to any garden.
Care Guide
Watering
Bleeding heart (Dicentra 'Red Fountain') should be watered when soil is dry to the touch, about 2 inches down. The amount of water will vary depending on the environment, but a good general guideline is to aim for 1 inch of water per week. If temperatures are warm, you may need to up this amount slightly. Water deeply, as this will encourage the plant’s roots to grow deep into the soil. Let the liquid soak in and then water again – this ensures the soil becomes properly saturated. Avoid over-watering as this can cause root rot or stem and leaf fungus.
Light
Bleeding heart (Dicentra 'Red Fountain') requires 6-8 hours of full sun per day, from mid-morning until mid-afternoon, during the growing season. The plant benefits from partial afternoon shade in areas of extremely hot summers. Too much sun and heat can cause the leaves to yellow and weaken the stems. In cooler climates, with less intense sun, it can tolerate full sun all day. During periods of extreme heat and excessive sunlight, some light shade may help protect the delicate foliage.
Temperature
Hardiness zone 4–8.
Pruning
Bleeding heart (Dicentra 'Red Fountain') should be pruned after flowering has finished, usually in late spring or early summer. Remove any faded blooms as they appear and cut the stems of flowering plants back to ground level. It is important not to cut off too much green growth as this will reduce flowering in the following season. Prune severely only if the plant begins to look overgrown and unkempt.
Propagation
Division, Cutting, Seed Propagation, Layering Propagation
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