Q.Growing “Bleeding Hearts” &best container/pot flowers?
This will be the first time I have attempted to grow the “bleeding hearts” plant. Is there any special care they may need?
Also, what are some plants that do well in pots (hanging, incl.)? I’m looking for any that drape over or are very full. Doesn’t matter if they are annual or perinneal.
Thanks!
There are several Dicentra cultivars and native varieties. They share the need for afternoon shade with morning sun and rich, moist soils. They are intolerant of dry and wet soils. Dicentra spectabilis, from Asia, is the largest and most likely to go dormant mid summer in hot, dry weather. If this happens, the foliage gets yellow and ratty-looking, so cut it down to the ground. Dicentra eximia is native to Eastern US, is smaller but blooms mid summer. "luxuriant" is a hybrid with nice foliage that doesn't usually go dormant but does not bloom mid-summer. The main bloom is springtime but it may rebloom in the fall. If your soil is average fertility, dig 3-4 inches of compost into the top 6 inches. Fertilizer isn't needed but add 1 inch of compost annually. As to hanging planters, popular choices are petunias, fuchsia, wild yam, silver licorice plant, some begonias, trailing or climbing zonal geranium, Black-eyed Susan vine, nasturtium and Callibrachoa.
