Appearance

Growth form

A clump-forming perennial usually 2–3 ft (60–90 cm) tall and wide, with soft stems and deeply divided leaves. After blooming, the leaves turn yellow and die back, and the plant goes dormant until next spring; this happens sooner in warm areas.

Flowers

Heart-shaped pink and white flowers hang in rows from arching stems. White-flowered garden forms also exist.

Flowering time

Flowers in spring to early summer; in North Carolina, blooms are usually seen from April to June.

Look-alikes

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• Shade gardens
• Woodland gardens
• Shady rocky slopes (in its native Asia)

Range

Native to northeastern China and the Korean Peninsula. In the US it is widely grown in shade gardens and has occasionally escaped into the wild.

Preferred conditions

Does best with morning sun, afternoon shade, and rich, moist, well-drained soil. It handles full sun only where summers are cool and moist.

Flowering

Flowers Apr–Jun

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Flowers

Flowers Apr–Jun

Growing it

Propagation

New plants come from division, root cuttings, or seed.

Toxicity

All parts are poisonous if eaten by people or pets, and handling the plant can irritate skin, so gloves are a good idea.

Connected species

Ties with other wildlife

Deer and rabbits usually leave it alone.

Pollinators

In US gardens, the flowers can attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Name and classification

About the name

Formerly called Dicentra spectabilis, and still often sold under that name.

Varieties and forms

Garden forms include white-flowered 'Alba' and golden-leaved 'Gold Heart'.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

NENot Evaluated·Not yet assessed