DICENTRA SPECTABILIS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19009, 3 November 1923, Page 3

DICENTRA SPECTABILIS.

This well-known plant, commonly calloil bleeding heart or lyre flower, is in England frequently forced for early floral decoration as a pot plant. Although fine examples are frequently met with in old cottage gardens, it has come to be regarded ns unsuitable for ordinary outdoor cultivation. It was received originally from Siberia, and is therefore quite hardy, but requires a sheltered spot whore cold winds cannot, injure the young foliage, and so planted that the sun. in the event of frost, will not reach the young growth before it is thawed, or it mav be severely damaged. D. spectabilis is bv far the best and most useful garden species, and in rich, welldrained soil will reach to a height of ID inches or more, the several graceful stems laden with heart-shaped, pendulous flowers of a rich rosy tinge—hence the common name of bleeding heart. A variety was introdued some years ago, named Alba, hut it is of much weaker growth, and. ns the blooms are not while, but of a pinkish hue, it does not justify its title, A pure white form would bo valuable. and will probably come in duo course. The species cximca is very hardy. It is much smaller than spectabilis, and grows as freely as a weed. It is quite at home in a stiff soil, and passes unharmed through each winter. A thriving colony may easily be obtained from the planting of a single root, and the profusion of its red flowers makes it a desirable plant, although it lacks the grace of D. spectabilis. D. cucnllaria is known as the Dutchman’s Breeches. This species is suitable for the rockery, being dwarf in habit; it bears white and yellow flowers. All the Dicenlra may be planted in autumn, and are. perhaps, better recognised under their old name of Dielytra,