Dutchman's Breeches Dicentra
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Dutchman's Breeches:
- Phonetic Spelling
- dy-SEN-trah
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Dicentra is a genus of eight species of annual and herbaceous perennial flowering plants in the poppy family (Papaveraceae). They are native to moist woodland areas in North America and western Asia and typically grow to a height and width of 1 foot.
Plant in partial to full shade in rich well-draining moist soils. Tolerant of the deepest shade these plants resemble ferns with their deeply divided lacey leaves, but unlike ferns they flower often with two-toned heart-shaped blooms, hence the common name bleeding heart.
These low maintenance flowering plants add a pop of cheery color to a shade garden and are resistant to damage by slugs. Plant in a woodland garden in a border front along a walkway or tucked in an understory planting.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Amore Pink'
Hoards of sweet, pink flowers - Dicentra formosa 'Adrian Bloom'
Compact with crimson-rose flowers. - Dicentra formosa 'Bacchanal'
Deep wine-red flowers. - Dicentra formosa 'Burning Hearts'
Bright rose-red flowers lined in white, extended bloom season. - Dicentra formosa 'Ivory White'
Ivory white flowers. In cooler weather, reblooming may occur. - Dicentra formosa 'King of Hearts'
Compact, sterile hybrid with rich carmine-rose flowers
- 'Amore Pink'
- 'Amore Pink', Dicentra formosa 'Adrian Bloom', Dicentra formosa 'Bacchanal', Dicentra formosa 'Burning Hearts', Dicentra formosa 'Ivory White', Dicentra formosa 'King of Hearts'
- Tags:











- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Amore Pink'
Hoards of sweet, pink flowers - Dicentra formosa 'Adrian Bloom'
Compact with crimson-rose flowers. - Dicentra formosa 'Bacchanal'
Deep wine-red flowers. - Dicentra formosa 'Burning Hearts'
Bright rose-red flowers lined in white, extended bloom season. - Dicentra formosa 'Ivory White'
Ivory white flowers. In cooler weather, reblooming may occur. - Dicentra formosa 'King of Hearts'
Compact, sterile hybrid with rich carmine-rose flowers
- 'Amore Pink'
- 'Amore Pink', Dicentra formosa 'Adrian Bloom', Dicentra formosa 'Bacchanal', Dicentra formosa 'Burning Hearts', Dicentra formosa 'Ivory White', Dicentra formosa 'King of Hearts'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dicentra
- Family:
- Papaveraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America and Asia
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Edibility:
- All plant parts are poisonous
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Cascading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Inedible
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Elongated, terminal cluster, each nodding with 2 spurs on the upper side
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- 2-pinnately divided, the ultimate segments deeply lobed.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Flower stems are leafless.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Rock Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
- Rabbits
- Slugs
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- Trembling, staggering, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, labored breathing. Skin irritation after repeated contact with the cell sap
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Several isoquinolone alkaloids
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems