Dicentra eximia (Ker Gawl.) Torr. 'Snowdrift'

RHS Plant Profile
bleeding heart 'Snowdrift'

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Synonyms

Dicentra eximia (Ker Gawl.) Torr. 'Alba'

Herbaceous Perennial
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A clump-forming, tuberous perennial to 30cm tall, producing pale grey-green, parsley-like leaves, and sprays of pure white flowers to 3cm long, during mid-spring and sparingly through to early autumn

Position

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
pH
Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or West–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
Clump forming
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

Plant in moist, fertile, humus-rich soil. Best in neutral or slightly alkaline soil, in part 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
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be suscceptible to slugs and snails damaging emerging foliage

Diseases

Generally disease-free