Dicentra formosa 'Cox's Dark Red'

Western Bleeding Hearts Papaveracae

Western Bleeding Heart in its most dramatic evening wear. A choice rhizomatous perennial with finely divided, blue-green foliage and elegant, nodding flowers in deep wine-red to dark crimson, held above the foliage on wiry stems. It brings considerably more drama to the woodland floor than the usual soft pink forms, without sacrificing the easy-going nature that makes D. formosa such a useful garden plant.

Native to western North America, from British Columbia south to northern California, it is well suited to fertile, humus-rich soil in sun or partial shade. Moisture is appreciated while actively growing, but it has a useful survival strategy in dry summers: under water stress it can go dormant early, retreating below ground and bouncing back when conditions improve. Ideal for naturalistic planting beneath deciduous trees and shrubs, and particularly effective with ferns and grasses.

Flowering: April–June
Height: 30–40cm
Spread: 50–80cm, eventually wider
Hardiness: H5, approximately –15 to –10°C
Distribution: Western North America, from British Columbia to northern California
Drought tolerance: Good — enters early dormancy under water stress and reshoots when moisture returns
Cultivation: Fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil; sun or partial shade
Introduction: Horticultural selection of Dicentra formosa; the precise origin of the cultivar is not clearly documented