Dicentra 'King of Hearts'

RHS Plant Profile

bleeding heart 'King of Hearts'

Synonyms

Dicentra formosa 'King of Hearts'

Herbaceous Perennial

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A compact, bushy perennial to 25cm tall. In spring and summer, arching sprays of deep pink heart-shaped flowers are held above the feathery, finely-divided blue-green leaves

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Poorly–drained
pH: Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing or North–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Papaveraceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Contact with the foliage may aggravate skin allergies. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus: Dicentra can be rhizomatous or tuberous perennials with attractively divided leaves and pendent, heart-shaped flowers, usually in arching panicles or racemes
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist, fertile, humus-rich soil, preferably neutral or slightly alkaline. Does best in partial shade in a sheltered position

Propagation

Propagate by division in early spring or after the leaves have died down

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Banks and slopes
Flower borders and beds
Garden edging

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

Generally disease-free