Dicentra, or Broken Heart - a plant both annual and perennial, belongs to the dymyankovy family. Dicentra (Greek "dis" - twice and "kentron" - spur), which means a two-spur. Spurs are located on both sides of the corolla petals. You can also find the names "Jeanette's heart", "flower of the heart", "locks and keys". Rezhedeliktra or bull's head.
The plant resembles drooping hearts with bright colors, attracts attention so much that in almost every country there is a legend about it. So, in the French version, the girl Jeanette fell in love with a young man who, while hunting, saw her and helped her find her way home. After some time, she saw her savior, but he was hugging another. Jeanette's grief was so great that her heart could not stand it and broke, and a purple-red flower grew in place of the fallen fragments.
Family: Smokey.
motherland: East Asia, North America, Far East.
Bloom: May - June 30-35 days, some species bloom later.
Height: from 15 cm to 1 m.
Light: Grows in both sun and shade.
Temperature: frost resistant.
Humidity: air: moderate watering.
top dressing: during the growing season, complex mineral fertilizer is applied 1-2 times.
reproduction: dividing the bush with cutting off the rhizome, cuttings, less often seeds.
Broken heart blooms early and is quite unpretentious. Plants grown by flower growers are herbaceous perennials. Height from 15 cm to 1 m, the stem is thick, straight. The root is fleshy, poisonous. The leaves are petiolate pinnate, dissected into two or three parts of green or blue-green, even bluish in color, rather tender. The flower itself is slightly flattened on both sides and resembles a broken heart, the outer petals of a darker color are slightly ajar, and behind them are visible inner, much lighter tone or any other color.
Broken heart flower bush
The outer petals of the flower end in hollow spurs where the nectar is collected. The diameter of the inflorescence is up to three centimeters. Inflorescences bloom, located on a drooping brush with thin petioles, curved down to one side. Flowering branches rise above the bush. After flowering, a seed box is formed with oblong, shiny black peas.
Broken heart is considered early flowering, but there are varieties that bloom in September. By selecting certain types of Dicentra, you can achieve flowering hearts from May to September, until the onset of cold weather, while caring for the plant is minimal, and growing it is a pleasure.
Kinds
There are 20 plant species, of which only Dicentra stray (Dicentraperegrina ) .
Consider the most commonly grown species:
Dicentra is magnificent or Broken heart- D. Spectabilis.
The perennial plant reaches a height of up to 1 m. Special care is not needed for it. It is a lush and tall plant, hence the name. The leaves are large, mostly basal pinnately dissected, green at the base and more bluish towards the edge. Flowers are heart-shaped, flat, saturated Pink colour up to 3 cm, bloom on inflorescences-brushes, the length of which reaches up to 20 cm. Broken heart of the Alba variety with flowers white color slightly lower, up to 70 cm.
Goldhut(goldheart) bred by breeders in 2004, the variety blooms pink, and the leaves have a yellow-golden hue.
Variety Goldhut dicentras
Dicentra is beautiful(D. formosa) with Orth medium height with light green leaves. Graceful flowers are small, white, from cream to purple hues. The flowering period is from June to September.
Dicentra exceptional or excellent(D.eximia), only 25 cm in height, with faded gray-green leaves, similar to a fern. Color from dark pink to white. Flowering continues for 2 months.
Dicentra bell-bearing(D. cucullaria), measuring 15 cm in height. The root is tuberous, the flowers are white or pinkish; top part the heart is elongated. The leaves are poisonous, but they are used for medicine.
Dicentra climbing(D. scandens), grown in the Himalayas. Unlike its counterparts, it is not a bush, but a liana up to 2 m long, it begins flowering in July with white-pink or yellowish inflorescences. Mostly annual. Does not tolerate cold and prefers warmer temperatures. The variety "Golden Tears" is frost-resistant, with a yellow flower, turning into a rich pink hue on spurs.
Dicentra vagrant(D. Peregrina). Grows in the Far East of Russia. The plant is small, no more than 15 cm. The leaves are gray, strongly dissected, the roots are short. The flowers, although rare, are large, rich purple or white. Perfect option for an alpine slide, where caring for it will consist of watering and removing dried branches. Blooms from July to September. Prefers a temperate climate, frost-resistant enough. Loves rocky sandy soil and drier soil.
Dicentra vagrant variety
Dicentra - amazing flower, which is suitable for single landings, and for decorating flower beds. A selection of low varieties are suitable for use on lawns, alpine slides, while large varieties go to create lush multi-level flower beds or look great as a single bush.
Care
The plant is unpretentious, and planting is suitable for both shaded and sunny areas. At the same time, flowering begins earlier in sunny places, but growing in the shade will give more abundant and prolonged flowering. The soil prefers slightly acidic, nutritious, moist. But it does not tolerate dampness. It is better to prepare a place for transplanting in the fall by digging up the ground with humus (5 kg per 1 m 2) and mineralized fertilizers (20 g per 1 m 2). In heavy soil, the soil is mixed with sand or leafy soil. If planting is autumn, then after preparing the soil, it is postponed for 2-3 weeks, or until spring.
We choose the place of the plant in the flower garden based on its variety. Tall magnificent Dicentra looks good in the central part of the flower bed
The plant does not require special care, you can feed a couple of times mineral fertilizers and remove weeds, while loosening the soil. It is worth watering during the dry season. If you remove dried faded brushes in a timely manner, taking care of the bush, you can achieve an extension of flowering or re-blooming closer to the end of the season. May suffer from frost as the leaves are quite tender. In this case, with an unpleasant forecast, a bush should be covered at night. nonwoven fabric acrylic type. yellowed in autumn ground part removed, leaving 3-5 cm.
reproduction
plant on permanent place grows no more than 5-8 years. The bush is updated, divided, cared for and transplanted. Planting a plant is best in spring (April-May) or autumn (September). The rhizome, although large, is very fragile. When digging and dividing, it must be handled very carefully. For planting with a sharp knife, prepare pieces of the root 8-10 cm long, with 3-4 shoots, and immediately plant them in the main place. When planting a single plant, it is worth placing 2-3 separated roots in a prepared pit 30 cm apart. This method will allow you to get a lush flowering bush in the first year.
Landing dicentra
Planting cuttings. Dicentra Gorgeous (broken heart) take layering in April, and Dicentra Beautiful - in the summer. The cuttings are grown and cared for in loosened, moistened soil, preferably in a greenhouse, they are driven to a depth of 10 cm. The moisture level is monitored, and roots and sprouts germinate in a month. The cuttings are planted in the main place next spring.
Propagation by seeds is rather complicated and is mostly not used.
Dicentra - beautiful flower with a beautiful legend. The second name - a broken heart - the plant received, thanks to the dramatic story of the unfortunate girl Jeanette, who was rescued in the forest by a sweet young man. She fell in love with him at first sight. I was looking for a meeting for a long time, I dreamed about him constantly. But one day I met him with a blond lady who was the bride of this young man. Jeanette's heart could not bear the pain and broke. The poor girl fell, and a flower grew in that place.
Description
Many decades ago, Dicentra was very popular. However, over time, they began to forget about it. The flower has disappeared from flower beds and is absolutely out of fashion. However, only now landscape designers have again remembered about it. Following them, gardeners also hurried to grow this beautiful plant on their plots. At the same time, they study all the subtleties of planting, growing and caring and share them with other connoisseurs of flowers.
A perennial plant containing approximately 20 species in its genus. In most cases, it grows on lands North America, Far East and China. The height of the plant is different: some do not exceed 30 cm, while others have a gigantic height of up to 100 cm.
The flowers themselves are small., only 2–3 cm in diameter. The color is red, soft pink, white or even yellow, and their shape resembles hearts that have been divided in half. The petals on the outside have a darker saturated color than the two inner petals. There are spurs on the corolla in the outer petals. They accumulate nectar.
The leaves have green tone with a blue-green tint present. They are pinnate and dissected two or even three times. Even after the plant stops blooming, it will not lose its attractiveness due to these decorative leaves. The stems of the flower are thick, and the rhizome is fleshy, rather deep into the soil.
The fruit is a kind of box with the presence of seeds. They are small and rather elongated. Germination lasts for about two years.
Dicentra: planting and care, photo
Soil preparation for planting
Planting can be done twice a year. Either with the onset of heat, namely in the period of late May-early April, or in autumn in September before the arrival of frost. After all, the roots need to be taken in open field and start developing.
Dicentra grows well both in shady places and in the sun. However, she still feels more comfortable in the shade, especially under the trees. In sunny areas, the plant begins to bloom much faster. But in dark places, the duration of flowering is longer, and the color of the flowers is richer.
Any soil is suitable. However, the plant will be much more comfortable in moderately moist soil. In dry soil, the dicentra blooms worse, and the color becomes pale. You should not overdo it with watering, as the roots of the flower may eventually simply rot. It will be good if the soil is saturated with fertilizers.
The soil must be prepared in advance. If planting is planned for the spring, then the site must be prepared in the fall. On autumn landing preparation begins in the spring.
The soil in the place of future growth must be dug up. For each square meter pour about 4 kg of humus. Then properly water with a mineral solution. For 10 liters of water you need 20 grams of fertilizer.
Planting process
First you need to dig holes about 40 cm deep. The distance between the holes should be about 50 cm. Then crushed stone should be poured onto the bottom, followed by a layer of earth, which was previously mixed with compost. Then the roots of the seedling are placed in the hole and covered to the top with the rest of the earth mixed with compost.
If the land on the site is rather rough and heavy, then you can mix it with sand and add crumbs of limestone. Then the plant will definitely “say” thank you.
plant care
If everything was done correctly when planting the dicentra, the soil is well prepared, then there should be no trouble with the plant and no special care is required. You just need to monitor the condition of the soil, water in time and in no case allow the land to dry out. It is also impossible to pour over, as the roots can rot.
You need to take care of the dicentra from the beginning of spring, when the first leaves come out from under the ground. During this period, it is necessary to slightly loosen the soil and cover it with a protective layer, that is, mulch.
If you get rid of fading inflorescences in time, then you can ensure flowering for a longer period. When the flowering is over completely, then you need to cut off all the withered leaves, leaving only small stumps.
If flower breeding occurs in northern regions , then it is advisable to cover it with a layer of peat for the winter, 4-8 cm will be enough. However, in regions where the winter is warm, this is not necessary, the plant has the ability to ban.
Transfer
In one place, the dicenter can grow up to six years., so there is no need for an annual transplant. Only after this period you need to find a new place. However, it is necessary to plant the plant, otherwise the roots will outgrow, may partially die off or rot. It is recommended to do this once every 2 years.
When flowering stops completely, and this happens either in early May or September, you need to dig up the plant. This must be done with the utmost care so as not to damage the rather fragile roots, dry them a little naturally and, in such a slightly sluggish state, cut the roots with the same accuracy. The pieces should be about 10-15 cm long and have 3-4 buds. Slices should be treated with ashes. And then transplant in the same way as during the initial landing. Water well. To add density to the bush, you can plant up to 3 divisions in one hole.
reproduction
One of the most basic methods of reproduction has been described above, namely, the division of the bush. Seed propagation is practiced little. Since the process is unreliable, rather time-consuming and it is not a fact that something will grow. Although there were still cases of successful plant growth from seeds. Seeds should be sown in autumn in September. They should germinate at a temperature of about +20 degrees. This takes about a month. When the seedlings have two pairs of leaves, then young plant transplanted into open ground. On winter period be sure to hide. Flowering with this method of reproduction occurs only in the third year.
Propagation by cuttings is carried out from the beginning of spring. For it in early spring cut young shoots of a flower about 15 cm long. Planting most often occurs in a greenhouse, but if you still want to transplant into open soil, then you need to monitor its moisture content. She must keep it. For this effect, the landing site can be covered with a film. Rooted cuttings can be transferred to the flower bed next spring.
Pests and diseases of the "broken heart"
Everything is in order with the immunity of the dicentro. She rarely gets sick. However, it is not an exception, and the disease can still occur. Tobacco mosaic and ring spot are the most common diseases of this plant. This is very easy to determine visually. Young leaves become mottled and striped, while those that are more mature take on the appearance of oak leaves.
And also a microplasma disease is not excluded, in which growth completely stops, and the flowers acquire a green or yellow tint.
Types and varieties, photo
Dicentra is magnificent.
A perennial plant, the height of which can reach 100 cm. The leaves of the magnificent dicenter are large pinnate and dissected.
Above green shade, bluish tone below. They are located on petioles about 12 cm in size. The flowers are about 3 cm in diameter and heart-shaped. The length of the inflorescences is approximately 20 cm. Flowering can reach three months, and it begins by the end of May.
Withstands winter down to frost -35 degrees, however, for better care It's best to mulch it for the winter though. Dicentra magnificent has 2 varieties:
- Alba, which has monochromatic white flowers. Growth up to 70 cm in height.
- Gold Hart - beautiful golden leaves with pink flowers.
Dicentra is beautiful.
The height of this species is very small, only 30 cm. The leaves are light green in color. The color of the flowers can be pale pink, white or purple. The diameter of the flowers is not more than 2 cm, and the length of the inflorescences is about 10–15 cm. They begin to bloom from June to the very beginning of autumn. They are also quite winter-hardy, but for the winter it is recommended to cover with a protective layer. Has 3 varieties:
- Aurora - white inflorescences.
- Bacchanal is a plant with bright red flowers.
- Adrian Bloom - a flower with pink inflorescences.
Dicentra bell-bearing.
She is the shortest in comparison with other species. Reaches only up to 15 cm in height. It has tuberous roots.
The leaves are dissected, and have a gray-green color. Inflorescences are presented in white or pinkish color.
The plant has applications in the pharmaceutical industry.
Dicentra exceptional.
The plant is also stunted and can grow up to 25 cm. The leaves are dark green pinnately dissected. Something like a fern. It blooms from the end of May until mid-autumn. Its buds are white and pink.
Dicentra broken heart - this plant has such a name because of the interesting and unique shape of its flowers in the form of a heart broken in half. Dicentra differs from other colors in its original shape. Dicentra care is simple, it can grow in partial shade. The plant grows from 30 centimeters to 1 meter tall.
The name of the flower "Dicentra" is rarely used, it is better known as the "flower of a broken heart." In France, Dicentra is called "Jeanette's heart", in Germany - "flower of the heart", in England - "lady in the bath".
Japan is the birthplace of Dicentra. In 1816, the flower was brought to Europe. Thanks to its original form , Dicentra began to decorate the gardens of aristocrats. Gardeners fell in love with this flower very much and gave unusual name varieties: graceful, excellent, beautiful, exceptional and magnificent.
In the fall, you need to choose a place for Dicentra and cultivate the soil. Choosing a location should not be a problem for you, because the heart flower grows well in both a sunny place and in the shade. Only in the shade, the buds open a little later.
Selected location required dig well approximately to a depth of 40 cm. Then this soil needs to be fertilized with humus (take 3 kg of fertilizer per m2). To make a mineral supplement, take a standard fertilizer that is suitable for garden flowers (dissolve 10-15 grams of it in 10 liters of water). When Dicentra grows up, it is necessary to additionally feed 3-4 times. As a result, the flower will grow faster and have a lush bloom.
The soil for Dicentra should be light, perfectly permeable to moisture and air. However, if you come across a heavy soil, it should be diluted with peat or river sand so that the roots do not rot.
Reproduction and transplantation of a broken heart
Dicentra can be propagated in three ways:
- division of the rhizome;
- aboveground sprouts;
- using seeds.
The use of seeds is not the best option, some types of Dicentra do not form them, and some - produce few seeds. Growing them is also difficult.
The best way to propagate a flower is to divide the rhizome. best period for this is the end of summer. They carefully dig up the roots, then pull them out from the ground and dry them. When they are in a slightly flaccid state, the roots are elastic and do not break.
Then the rhizome of the flower is divided into pieces, so that each has 3-4 buds for the formation of shoots. These parts are planted in the ground in a place that is not very well lit, and it is very well watered with warm water. As a protective action slices sprinkled with ash. When these parts of the root take root, they can be transplanted into a flower bed.
Dicentra can also be transplanted in early spring. Only this should be done when the shoots have not yet begun their growth or have just begun. Division can be done once every 5–6 years, at least, because then the aging process occurs in the roots, and they die off.
The landing of a broken heart occurs as follows:
- Make holes in the flower bed, with a distance of 30-40 cm from each other.
- Place 3-4 parts of the root in the hole, cover them with earth, tamp a little.
- Pour warm water.
In the spring, the flower is also propagated by ground cuttings. Carefully rake the ground at the base of the Dicentra and cut off small pieces with the "heel" with the help sharp knife. Then the cuttings are placed in a stimulator for the rapid appearance of roots and wait about a day. Further, these parts are planted in the soil, which has previously been well watered. At the end, carefully cover with a greenhouse film. About a month later, roots form. Sprouts can be planted in a flower bed in a year.
Dicentra Care
Caring for a heart flower is proper lighting, timely watering, loosening the earth and weeding.
Dicentra well takes root in a place lit by the sun and in the shade. But the flowering period and splendor Dicentra depends on the degree of illumination. In sunny territory buds open early, but their flowering passes quickly, while the flowers are not particularly lush. If Dicentra grows in the shade, then it blooms a little later, while the flowers are very bright and large. The color does not fade until mid-summer.
Tips from experts on proper flower care:
- In order to achieve rich and bright color Dicentres, in the spring, fertilize the roots with superphosphate, and then make another 3-4 additional fertilizing.
- For better new bud formation, fertilize with nitrogen after the flower has stopped blooming.
- In winter, it is better to cover the plant using non-woven material.
- Remove faded brushes in time so that others bloom longer.
- In autumn, you need to remove the above-ground part, leaving only stumps that do not exceed 5 cm.
- Pay special attention to the ground. If there is waterlogging, then the roots of the flower will rot. That is why you need to choose an elevated place for flower beds. If Dicentra is planted and this place is constantly flooded, then you need to artificially raise the ground and make a drainage layer in the flower garden, grooves so that the water can flow. In hot weather, you need to water the flower more often so that the roots do not dry out. To retain moisture, use peat or humus. It is placed in a large layer around the base of the Dicentra.
Varieties Dicentras
The centerpiece is great. This variety of flower is the largest and most magnificent. This is a shrub that has openwork foliage and is completely covered with flowers. Very often these flowers have a bright pink color, less often white. Dicentra with white flowers is characterized by lower growth.
Varieties Dicentra
The center is beautiful. This is a small shrub, the height of which does not exceed 30 cm. The flowers are miniature, have a color from pale white to bright purple. They begin to bloom with the advent of spring, and finish at the end of summer. In some varieties you can find silver colored leaves.
Dicentra is exceptional. This variety has a miniature growth that does not exceed 25 cm. The inflorescences are pink, white or purple. It blooms for about 2 months, and if the summer is not hot, then the whole season. The leaves are bluish-gray in color and resemble a fern in shape. It tolerates winter easily.
Curly dicentra. A variety arose as a result of selective selection. The birthplace of the flower is the Himalayas. This unique variety, annual. Blooms with yellow buds. In the process of growth, the vine reaches two meters.
Dicentra stray. This variety has small dimensions, no more than 15–20 cm, it also has short roots. It blooms not profusely, but the inflorescences are large. They can be white, pink or red. This Dicentra variety blooms in July and blooms until September. Handles cold weather well.
Dicentra is not only a very beautiful flower, but versatile and very practical. The flower looks great in a single planting and is also suitable for planting with other plants. Large varieties planted to create multi-level flower beds near the house, and low ones are great for decorating lawns,
The presence of luxurious pink bushes, tall thickets of gladioli and even lines of marigolds and next to country houses, allows them to look great, but quite standard. Therefore, it is possible to revive an already traditional landscape with such beautiful flowers. Already early spring allows this pampered Dicentra flower to bloom its own heart buds, how they can decorate your household plot until mid-summer. Only for all this, it is required to correctly observe all the norms and tips when planting and caring for the culture.
The very name of the flower is of little use, much more you can hear a more figurative name - "broken heart". The culture received a similar name because of the unusual shape of the buds, which look like small hearts. Someone knows this culture as a two-spur - which literally translated from the words dis and kentron means "twice" and "spur". Wealthy French legends testify to the name "Jeanette's heart", in Germany the dicentra is called the "flower of the heart", in the UK - "the lady in the bath." Our people christened him as "heartbreak".
flower dicentra Despite the fact that many are accustomed to consider the European dicenter, its homeland is in Japan, with which European countries the flower was brought only in 1816. beautiful plant was able to immediately attract attention with its brightness and unusual shape buds, therefore, it became a frequent guest of aristocratic owners and nobles. Due to the fact that the flower turned out to be non-standard and exquisite, gardeners very quickly fell in love with the plant, as the names of flower species eloquently testify. These are adjectives: beautiful, magnificent, excellent and exceptional. When there is a choice of a place for a flower, in a flower bed, or in a flower garden, you need to look at its variety. Tall, magnificent dicentra, looks great in the center of the composition. But the miniature, along with the vagrant and exclusive, is better located on the sides, or along the curb.
How to prepare the soil for planting a crop
Despite the fact that the dicentra is not capricious, in order to improve flowering, even with autumn period it is necessary to prepare the site for landing and cultivate the soil.
The plant feels great in places that are illuminated by the sun, as well as in the shade of a tree, based on which, there should not be any special difficulties with the improvement of the flower. But in places where there is shade, the buds will open later.
During the autumn period, one should carefully dig up the area chosen for planting to a depth of about 40 centimeters, and also increase its fertility by introducing humus (about 3 kilograms per square meter). By the way, a multifunctional fertilizer for garden plants in a volume of 15 to 20 grams per 10 liters of liquid. In the future, when the dicentra begins to give color, it will need to be fed about 3-4 times, which will guarantee rapid growth and violent flowering. Following rain or watering, the ground around the plant must be loosened, but very carefully, because the roots of the flower are located side by side to the surface. To weed and loosen the earth, you need to use a tool that resembles a small pitchfork, then the cultivation of the soil will be gentle, and the fragile roots will not be damaged.
It is good if the earth is quite light and can be a conductor of moisture and oxygen without any problems. In the event that the earth is heavy, clayey, it must be diluted using river sand or peat, so as not to cause rotting of the roots. Most gardeners during the winter create a "pie", which includes dry straw or reeds, and pave them in layers, and also alternate with soil in a specially dug hole.
Best Practices for Propagation and Transplantation
There are three methods of crop propagation - rhizome division, above-ground shoots and seeds. We will discard the last option right away, since the flower, as is customary, forms quite a few seeds, and species such as "Magnificent" do not produce them at all. The very process of seed production can entail difficulties, on the basis of which, the most realistic method of reproduction is jigging parts of the rhizome or shoots.
It is more correct to divide the dicenters when the summer comes to an end, at the moment when the shoots located above the ground begin to die. The roots should be very carefully dug up, removed from the soil and dried - in a slightly drowsy stay, they will be more elastic and will break less often. After this procedure, it is necessary to carefully separate the rhizomes into elements, so that 3-4 buds are left on each site for the acquisition of shoots. Elements of the root system should be buried in the ground, in a poorly lit area, and soundly watered with warm water. To protect the plant, it would be appropriate to sprinkle the sections with ashes. After the divisions begin to take root, they will be allowed to be transplanted into a flower bed. To divide an old flower, you need to dig out the whole flower. The rhizome must be carefully divided into parts, the elements that have died, as well as thin processes, must be removed.
Propagation of dicentra by dividing the rhizome In early spring, you can also transplant the dicenter. It is required to choose the moment when the shoots will still “sleep”, or will just begin to grow. The division is made once every 5 or 6 years, but not less often, because then the roots will grow old and die.
When disembarking, the disembarkation order should be followed:
- It is necessary to make small holes in the flower bed, between which the gap will be about 30-40 centimeters (the larger the adult flower, the farther the span);
- In each of the holes, you need to put 3-4 divisions - for pomposity;
- Bury the holes with soil, tamp a little;
- Pour some water that has been heated by the sun's rays.
Propagation by ground cuttings takes place in the spring. It is necessary to carefully rake the ground at the base of the bush and cut off small flower elements with a “heel” with a knife. Following this, the cuttings must be kept in the stimulator for a day so that the roots appear as quickly as possible and then planted in abundantly watered soil, at the end closely covering with a greenhouse film. About a month later, roots will begin to appear. On a low-lying area, flowers will be planted only after a year. If necessary, to demonstrate the colorfulness and uniqueness of the flower, you can plant it alone in a pot, planter, or a huge ceramic flowerpot.
Dicentra reproduction by cuttings (video)
Characteristics of caring for dicentra
Proper cultivation of a crop consists in the fact that it must be looked after without interruption, during which optimal lighting should be provided, timely watering, weeding and loosening should be carried out.
The flower can bloom well in the sun and in the shade, but its chicness and duration of flowering will be clearly determined by the level of lighting. On open space, the buds will be able to bloom and bloom much earlier, and the peduncles will not differ in special sizes and splendor. Where there are shaded areas, the color will not grow as quickly, but the "hearts" can be bright, massive and not disappear by mid-summer. Dicentra really likes sandy and rocky terrain, therefore it will be good if it is located on sloping slopes along paths that are laid out with stone or brick. In order to arrange a drainage layer, which is located under the upper fertile layer, it is allowed to use a small part and gravel, or massive river sand.
- Reach rich colors Dicentral buds can be fed if in the spring the roots are fed with superphosphate, and after, at the moment of growth, another 3-4 feedings are carried out.
- After the culture has faded, fertilizing should be done, where there will be nitrogen, so that new buds can better form.
- With a strong drop temperature regime, it is better to cover the flower using non-woven material.
- Brushes that have faded should be removed in a timely manner so that the flowering period of other branches is extended.
- When the autumn time comes, it will be necessary to remove the aerial part in order to leave the stumps no higher than 5 cm.
Special attention should be paid to the soil. If the roots of the plant are too wet, they will begin to rot, therefore, when placing flower beds, it is better to select raised places.
When the dicenter has been planted, and the soil is constantly flooded, it is necessary to artificially raise the soil and equip the plant with a drainage layer, as well as grooves to drain water.
If there is a high temperature, then it is necessary to give water to the flower more often and stronger so that the roots do not dry out. In order to retain moisture and protect it from overheating, you can use peat or humus, which should be laid out in a dense layer near the formation of a dicenter.
The most common flower types
Dicentra Gorgeous
The dicenter of this species acquired a similar name because of its size, because it is the largest and most pompous culture. An adult flower looks voluminous, covered with openwork foliage and densely covered with flowering brushes of the bush. The most popular tint palette is hot pink, much less often you can find a dicenter with white flowers. White-flowered forms have a small height, however, they are not inferior in splendor and decorativeness.
In order for the plant to bloom next time closer to the end of summer, one dexterity should be used: when flowering ends, the brushes with peduncles must be carefully cut off.
Dicentra Magnificent (Dicentra spectabilis) Dicentra Beautiful
It is a small shrub that reaches a height of no more than 30 centimeters. Flowering is accompanied by small, but beautiful flowers, the color of which varies from pale white to bright purple. The duration of flowering is quite long - from the spring months to the end of summer. Some species have an unusual silver color of the leaves, as if they were covered with a light fluff. The flower fits in for decorating borders and. Dicentra Beautiful is one of the flowers that manages to give seeds. This is due to long flowering, which continues until the autumn period, when the seed pods are fully formed.
Dicentra Beautiful (Dicentra formosa) Dicentra Exceptional (Excellent)
It is distinguished by its small height, only 25 centimeters. Against the background of gray-blue leaves, which resemble fern leaves in shape, the presence of fragile pink, purple, or white inflorescences stands out. Flowering is rather modest, not very strong, for about two months, and if the summer is cool, then throughout the season. This flower lends itself well to winter forcing. Due to its resemblance to fern leaves, "exceptional", fits perfectly under the spectacular decoration of alpine slides, rose gardens, or small coniferous plantations.
Dicentra Exceptional (Dicentra eximia) Dicentra Curly (Climbing)
As a result of selective selection, a winding dicenter appeared. It is an amazing variety, annual, the country of origin, which is commonly believed to be the Himalayas. This variety has an unusual bush, the length of which is up to two meters of creeper, which will bloom with beautiful yellowish buds. Growing a climbing culture is much more difficult than its relatives. This is partly due to separate courtship, higher temperature conditions, and the fact that they have a hard time with cold weather.
Dicentra climbing (Dicentra scandens) Dicentra Wandering
It differs in the presence of minimum dimensions, no more than 15-20 centimeters and short roots. The flowers are rare, massive, which have white, pink and red. This type has a late flowering period, from July to September. The plant knows how to feel great in temperate climatic conditions and freely endure cold snap. The wandering species loves not very wet soil. It prefers sandy, gravelly or rocky soil, therefore it should be used to decorate alpine hills, screes and slopes.
Dicentra Wandering (Dicentra peregrina) Dicentra serves as a widely versatile plant, so it fits equally well for both single landings and for decorating group flower beds. A flower with a small stature, well decorates lawns, alpine slides, rose gardens and thickets of evergreen bushes. Large flowers form chic multi-level flower beds near the buildings.
Dicentra - unpretentious plant for shady places (video)
It is impossible not to fall in love with the dicentra flower. A tender pink "heart" is broken exactly in the middle, and a "tear" flows out of the wound. IN last years the fashion for the undeservedly forgotten dicentra is back.
Dicentra in a flower bed most often appears by chance - a green bush with carved leaves gifts from friends or acquaintances. Indeed, for the first time when they see a dicentra bush, many sigh disappointedly, but being afraid to offend the donors, they plant it in a flower bed near the house. But next spring, the unsightly bush will bloom with beautiful bright “hearts” and the attitude towards it will change dramatically. All neighbors will ask what kind of bush this is - after all, few people know about this undeservedly forgotten miracle of nature.
Why is a dicentra called a broken heart?
In France, the dicentra is called the Jeannette flower. There is a legend associated with it. A long time ago, a young girl went to the forest to pick berries. The sun began to sink behind the trees when Jeannette realized she was lost. Trying to find a path, she scratched all her hands and face on thorny bushes. It was getting dark fast. Jeannette called for help, but no one answered. Only closer and closer was the howl of emboldened wolves.
And then Jeannette saw a beautiful rider on a white horse. The young man picked up the weeping Jeannette, put him on his horse and galloped towards the village. Once at the threshold of her home, the girl thanked the savior and looked after him for a long time. Her heart was beating loudly. She knew that she would see him again, but did not expect that it would be a sad meeting.
Dicentra flower
A year passed, and Jeannette remembered everything about the beautiful rider. So one morning she was working in her garden when she heard loud music. A rich wedding procession was driving past her house. Jeannette raised her head and gasped: in the groom embracing the beautiful bride, she recognized her savior. Jeannette's heart gave out and broke. And in this place in the garden grew beautiful flower dicentra, reminding people of how the heart suffers from unrequited love.
Dicentra - care and landing
The Germans call it perennial“flower of the heart”, and in our country it is known as a “broken heart”. However, botanists far from romantics call it dicentra (from the Greek dis - "twice" and kentron - "spur"), because of the two spur-shaped protrusions at the petals of the corolla of the flower. And yet this noble plant did not leave anyone indifferent. Listen only to the names of some species: magnificent dicentra, beautiful dicentra, exceptional dicentra ... Agree, not every plant is awarded with such epithets.
You look at this blooming tenderness and think that the dicentra is incredibly capricious. But it's not. The plant is unpretentious to the ground, but grows better on light, fertile, slightly acidic soils. Special attention moisture should be given: with an excess of water, the roots of the dicentra quickly rot.
Dicentra will grow well without your attention. And yet, watering, weeding, loosening and fertilizing with mineral fertilizers will not be superfluous. Dicentra is propagated by dividing the bush in autumn. All types of dicentra are frost-resistant.
In the shade of the dicentra, it blooms later than in a sunny place, and has a paler color of flowers. But the duration of flowering is increasing.
Currently, there are about twenty types of dicentra. Depending on the variety, the height of the bush can be from 15 to 100 cm.
Dicentra has up to 20 species
The flowering period of dicentra lasts an average of 35-40 days, after which above-ground part plants die off, and in the spring growth begins again. Beginning of flowering different types happening in different time. Therefore, fans of this plant select varieties in their garden so that plantings bloom from May to September.
Love for the dicenter is understandable: there is no such place that this sissy could not decorate with her presence! Dicentra is planted in flower beds, flower beds, mixborders, borders. Low-growing species look great in mixed landings, and tall, lush bushes look great one at a time. Dicentra looks very impressive on alpine slide, as well as in combination with fern, thuja, juniper and against the background of decorative coniferous plantings. It goes well with bulbs: tulips, daffodils, as well as more tall plants, such as delphinium or white phlox.
Dicentra inflorescences are excellent for cutting. It is also successfully grown as a houseplant.