Dactylicapnos torulosa

RHS Plant Profile

climbing squirrel corn

RHS

Other common names

Dutchman's breeches

Synonyms

Dicentra torulosa

Climber Wall Shrub

An annual climber with finely divided foliage and hanging clusters of yellow, locket-shaped flowers. Grown mostly for its striking seed pods, to 15cm, terracotta red and beaded, which open to show black and white seeds

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years
Max Spread: 1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height: 4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: South–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): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Papaveraceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Climbing
Potentially harmful: Can cause stomach upset if ingested and contact with foliage may aggravate skin allergies. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus: Dactylicapnos (formerly included in Dicentra) are frost-tender deciduous climbing perennials or annuals, with compound or pinnate leaves, and flowers with heart-shaped outer petals which are characteristically pouched at the base, convergent to the tips, then bent outwards. These are usually borne in small, sometimes hanging, clusters, followed by pods, some strikingly inflated
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: S China to India

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in partial shade in a moist, but well-drained soil. A soil rich in leaf mould is ideal. May self-seed

Propagation

Propagate by seed; sown fresh seed in vermiculite or grit and placing in a cold frame through winter (stratifying). Also can be propagated by semi-ripe cuttings in June

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
City and courtyard gardens
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

Cut back foliage down to ground level at end of growing season

Pests

Slugs and snails may be problematic

Diseases

Generally disease-free