Product Description
Dicentra 'Passion Hearts' PPAF (25) Bare Root Plants
'Passion Hearts' (scientific name: Dicentra formosa 'Passion Hearts' or a related hybrid) is a truly captivating perennial, distinguished by its unique bicolor flowers. These delightful blooms display a striking combination of dark rose pink and lighter rose-pink hues, creating a vibrant and eye-catching display. Beyond its charming flowers, 'Passion Hearts' is celebrated for its exceptionally detailed and finely dissected, fern-like blue-green foliage, which adds an exquisite touch of elegance and texture to any garden setting.
This cultivar is remarkably floriferous, offering a continuous parade of blooms throughout the growing season, from late spring through early fall. This extended blooming time ensures a long-lasting show of beauty, making it an excellent choice for gardeners and landscapers seeking consistent color. 'Passion Hearts' is an alpine-type hybrid, bred to thrive in specific conditions, notably full sun, and well-drained soils. This adaptability to sunnier locations sets it apart from many traditional bleeding hearts, which often prefer shade, making it a versatile addition to a variety of garden styles.
- Height: Typically grows to a mature height of 18 to 24 inches (45-60 cm).
- Spread: Forms a broad clump, spreading 26 to 28 inches (66-71 cm) wide.
- Flowers: Bicolor, featuring shades of dark rose pink and light rose pink. The heart-shaped flowers are borne on graceful arching stems.
- Foliage: Deciduous, finely dissected, and fern-like, displaying attractive blue green to green shades. The intricate texture of the leaves provides year-round interest even when not in bloom.
- Bloom Time: Exhibits a long blooming period, typically from late spring through early fall, including early summer, midsummer, and late summer.
- Growth Rate: Considered to have a slow to medium growth rate.
- Critter Resistance: Notably deer resistant, making it a good choice for areas where deer browse is a concern.
- Attracts Wildlife: Attracts hummingbirds and is considered bee-friendly, contributing to pollinator gardens.
- Features: Excellent as a border plant, in containers, and its unique flowers and foliage make it suitable for use as a cut flower or cut foliage in arrangements. Its compact size also makes it a good "small" plant for various applications.
- Common Name: Fern-leaved Bleeding Heart
- Botanical Name (likely): Dicentra formosa 'Passion Hearts' (or a similar hybrid in the Dicentra genus)
- Available as Grade #1 Bare Root.
Native Habitat
While 'Passion Hearts' is a cultivated hybrid, its genetic lineage traces back to species of Dicentra native to woodlands and mountainous regions of North America and Asia. As an "alpine-type hybrid," it has been selectively bred to thrive in conditions often found in alpine environments, characterized by full sun and excellent drainage, which differs from the typical shaded woodland habitat of some other Dicentra species. It is important to note that this specific cultivar is not native to North America.
Landscaping Design Tips
'Passion Hearts' is a highly versatile plant that can enhance a variety of garden styles. Its unique bicolor flowers and delicate foliage make it a stand-out specimen.
- Mass Planting: For a truly impactful display, consider mass planting 'Passion Hearts' in drifts or sweeps. This creates a cohesive carpet of intricate blue-green foliage punctuated by continuous waves of pink blooms. Mass plantings are particularly effective along borders, in front of taller shrubs, or as a vibrant groundcover in sunny, well-drained areas. The continuous bloom provides a season-long spectacle.
- Border Plant: Its moderate height and long blooming period make it an ideal choice for the front to mid-border, providing consistent color and texture.
- Container Gardening: 'Passion Hearts' thrives in containers, where its exquisite foliage and prolonged bloom can be admired up close. Use it as a focal point in a patio container or as part of a mixed arrangement. Ensure the container has excellent drainage.
- Rock Gardens: Given its "alpine-type" nature and preference for well-drained soil, it is an excellent fit for rock gardens, where it can nestle amongst stones and complement other alpine or drought-tolerant plants.
- Cottage and Eclectic Gardens: Its romantic appeal and continuous bloom fit perfectly into the informal charm of cottage gardens. In eclectic designs, its unique features can provide an interesting contrast or complement to diverse plant palettes.
- Asian Garden Style: The delicate, fern-like foliage and graceful form can lend a serene and elegant touch to Asian-inspired garden designs.
- Cut Flower/Foliage: The attractive flowers and detailed foliage are perfect for cutting and adding to fresh floral arrangements, bringing the garden's beauty indoors.
Hardiness
'Passion Hearts' is remarkably hardy, thriving across a wide range of climates.
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. This extensive hardiness range makes it suitable for a vast majority of temperate regions.
Planting and Cultivation
- Sunlight: While many bleeding hearts prefer shade, 'Passion Hearts' is an "alpine-type hybrid" and performs best in Full Sun (more than 6 hours of direct sun daily). It can also tolerate Part Shade (4-6 hours of direct sun daily), especially in hotter climates where some afternoon shade might be beneficial.
- Water Requirements: Has Average Water Needs. Once established, it is moderately drought tolerant, but regular watering during dry spells will promote better blooming. Avoid consistently wet or soggy soil, which can lead to root rot.
- Soil Quality: Adapts well to Average Soil Quality. The most crucial factor is drainage.
- Soil Chemistry: Highly adaptable to a range of soil pH, thriving in Acidic Soil (pH < 7.0), Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0), and Alkaline Soil (pH > 7.0).
- Planting: When planting bare roots or container-grown plants, ensure the crown of the plant is at soil level. Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter like compost or grit to improve drainage.
- Fertilizing: A light application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring can promote vigorous growth and abundant blooms.
- Maintenance: Generally low maintenance. Deadheading spent flowers is not strictly necessary for continuous bloom but can improve the plant's appearance. The foliage typically remains attractive throughout the season and does not require extensive pruning. In late fall, after the first hard frost, the foliage will die back; at this point, it can be cut back to the ground.
- Pest and Disease: Robust and resistant to most common pests and diseases, especially when grown in appropriate conditions with good air circulation and drainage. The "Critter Resistant: Deer Resistant" characteristic is a significant advantage.
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
