Squirrel Corn Dicentra
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Squirrel Corn:
- Phonetic Spelling
- dy-SEN-trah
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Dicentra is a genus of over 20 species of annual and perennial herbaceous flowering plants in the Papaveraceae family. They are native to moist woodland areas in North America 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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- 'Adrian Bloom'
Compact with crimson-rose flowers. - 'Amore Pink'
Hoards of sweet, pink flowers - 'Bacchanal'
Deep wine-red flowers. - 'Burning Hearts'
Bright rose-red flowers lined in white, extended bloom season. - 'Ivory White'
Ivory white flowers. In cooler weather, reblooming may occur. - 'King of Hearts'
Compact, sterile hybrid with rich carmine-rose flowers
- 'Adrian Bloom'
- 'Adrian Bloom', 'Amore Pink', 'Bacchanal', 'Burning Hearts', 'Ivory White', 'King of Hearts'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Adrian Bloom'
Compact with crimson-rose flowers. - 'Amore Pink'
Hoards of sweet, pink flowers - 'Bacchanal'
Deep wine-red flowers. - 'Burning Hearts'
Bright rose-red flowers lined in white, extended bloom season. - 'Ivory White'
Ivory white flowers. In cooler weather, reblooming may occur. - 'King of Hearts'
Compact, sterile hybrid with rich carmine-rose flowers
- 'Adrian Bloom'
- 'Adrian Bloom', 'Amore Pink', 'Bacchanal', 'Burning Hearts', 'Ivory White', 'King of Hearts'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dicentra
- Family:
- Papaveraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- USA
- 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:
- 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
