Lamprocapnos spectabilis 'Alba'

OLD FASHIONED BLEEDING HEART, ASIAN BLEEDING-HEART, LADY IN A BATH, LYRE FLOWER, DUTCHMAN'S TROUSERS, VENUS'S CAR
syn. Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba'
Family: Papaveraceae
Pronounced: lam-pro-CAP-nus spek-TAH-bi-lis

 

Quick Jumps

Growing Guide
Rainy Side Notes

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GROWING GUIDE

Origin:
Siberia, North China.
Plant Group:
Perennial.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: 1-9, 14-24.
USDA zones: 3-9.
Mature size:
Height: 4 feet (1 m).
Width: 18 inches (45 cm).
Flowering period:
Late spring, early summer.
Flowering attributes:
White heart shaped petals on the outside and white petals on the inside. Three to fifteen flowers hang on racemes on arching stems.
Leaf attributes:
Coarsely divided, soft green foliage.
Growth habit:
Clump-forming.
Light:
Partial shade; full sun if extra moisture is provided, but better if shaded from hot midday sun.
Soil:
Moist, fertile, humus rich soil.
Feeding:
Side dress with compost or manure. Fertilize in spring with a complete organic fertilizer.
Propagation Methods:
Sow in containers and keep at temperatures of 64-71ºF (18-22ºC) for 2-4 weeks. Then move to reduced temperatures of 24-39ºF (-4 to +4ºC) for 4-6 weeks. Then move to temperatures of 41-53ºF5 (-12ºC) until the seeds germinate. | Root cuttings, 3-4 inches long in March. | Divide dormant rhizome after flowering.
Pests and Diseases:
Slugs and snails may be a problem with young plants.

 

Rainy Side Notes

Mark Tebbitt, author of Bleeding Hearts, Corydalis and Their Relatives said, "... little if anything distinguishes these plants," when he wrote about the two widely grown white flowering cultivars 'Alba' and 'Pantaloons'. I’ve only grown L. ‘Alba’ in my garden where its strings of lovely, white flowers lights up the shade. I like to place it in front of dark foliage plants, such as Sarcococca, where the well-defined, heart-shaped blossoms really stand out.

The first white flowering L. spectabilis of the species had tinges of pink and were grown in England. They were weaker than the white flowered cultivars grown today.

To read more cultural advice for this plant and why the genus name was changed from Dicentra to Lamprocapnos, see my notes on the species Lamprocapnos spectabilis.

More Lamprocapnos
More Dicentras

Photographed in author's garden.