Wednesday, 15 May 2013

A story of a dicentra… and a fine lady.

Dicentra formosa alba

The lady



Dicentra formosa alba 
The dicentra.


The rise and fall of  Dicentra ‘Snowflakes’

But this similar darker red cultivar ‘Bacchanal’ does!
Difference between Dicentra formosa and Dicentra eximia



A typical Dicentra formosa flower


Another white dicentra. Dicentra formosa ‘Aurora’

My previous dicentra posts


  1. Wow, I have just noticed that my picture of Dicentra eximia is plastered with aphids!

  2. I used to have a dicentra that looked like the white one - it had very grey leaves - I also have a similar pink variety - short spreading plants both. Can't remember its name though - is there more than one variety?

    Funnily we were at the NYMR gala on Friday and got off the train in Goathland before getting another to Whitby psssing through Sleights

    1. Other white Dicentra formosa,
      Pearl Drops syn Langtrees
      Hope you had a great time at the North Yorks steam railway,Sue

    2. I think it was Langtrees - I'll be looking out to see if it is still there now,. The pink one is just starting to flower. I can't remember that name either

      We were disappointed with the gala - we wanted a ride in the Railway Children carriage which wasn't there and then out train back from Grosmont was cancelled which meant a two hour wait for the next one that ended up being a diesel. My husband was disappointed that promised engines weren't on display - to me an engine is only differentiated by the size of it's funnel and the expression on its 'face'!

  3. They are very pretty blooms to look forward to, especially with all the color choices it offers.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

    1. There is a whole kaleidoscope of colour in Dicentra formosa from white through pink,red and purple. Other species such as macrocapnos, macrantha and scandens are yellow

  4. Do you know where I can find pictures that show Dicentra Eximia in all phases? I would like to plant some in our yard in Maryland, but am not sure what it will look like in the middle and end of summer. Thanks.

    1. Dicentra eximia tends to look nicer than formosa in summer. Formosa usually eventually goes dormant in summer although sometimes reappears in a wet autumn.
      Unfortunately I find it difficult to actually keep eximia looking good over a long period in my conditions. In terms of stature and general appearance formosa and eximia are very similar. To get pictures of eximia in all phases, google dicentra eximia and click images. You will have to use your common sense as to which ones - the majority- will be correct.

  5. I have a white dicentra which doesnt expand or grow much after 6 yrs or so, also it has a very short flowering spell, any idea what its called?
    i have met the delightful Joyce at her house, she is an amazing lady, I have read the books too .
    Sadly they had severe flooding in recent yrs which ruined a lot.

    1. Yes anon, huge boulders have been washed down that North Yorkshire Moors valley in massive downpours in recent years!
      I need more details to identify your plant, the commonest white dicentras are D. formosa alba or the much larger and later D spectabilis alba. There are pictures of various white dicentras on this blog if you use the search box at the bottom.

  6. In 1998 when working for YTV on the Heartbeat programme in Goathland I discovered Joyce Fussey's magical stream side garden on one of my breaks. I had no idea she was such a celebrated author and gardener, just a lovely lady with a passion for all things growing! She was delightful company and so knowledgable. I bought a simple rosa glauca and it still grows in my garden - it is called Mrs Fussey's Rose (by me and my family). Happy memories

    1. Thank you for your memories. It is letters like yours that makes blogging worthwhile.
      We have several plants named after people and places



Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...