Dicentra formosa Spring Gold

Dicentra formosa 'Spring Gold' is a very pretty form of the robust Bleeding Heart, with golden foliage. Discovered by Beth Chatto in her English garden, it develops golden foliage in spring that turns chartreuse green, from which clusters of delicate flowers emerge, in the shape of long, pendulous little hearts, in a soft pink-mauve. With bright fern-like foliage and refined flowering, this selection is superb in a shaded border or in a pot on the terrace. This superb woodland perennial perfectly withstands winter and tolerates any ordinary soil, even occasionally dry in summer.

Dicentra Spring Gold is derived from Dicentra formosa, native to the coniferous forests of western North America. It is often found in crevices of rock on mountain slopes, as well as in valleys. It belongs to the Papaveraceae family, or the Fumariaceae family according to classifications. It is a rhizomatous and deciduous perennial plant, which disappears in winter and reappears in spring. It has moderately fast growth, forming a bushy clump in a few years that can reach about 35 cm (14in) high and 50-55 cm (20-22in) wide. 'Spring Gold' Bleeding Heart spreads laterally through trailing rhizomes, allowing it to expand if conditions are favourable.

Its stems emerge from the ground in spring and bear divided, feathery leaves with a delicate appearance initially a golden yellow slightly tinged with chartreuse, then a chartreuse green that remains very bright until the end of summer. Flowering takes place towards the end of spring depending on the climate, and can continue for much of summer if the soil remains moist. Bleeding Heart is often dormant in summer and its foliage dries up. At the tips of the stems, pendulous flowers measuring 3 cm (1in) in height and 1 to 2 cm (1in) in width appear, composed of outer petals forming a heart and inner arrow-shaped petals. In 'Spring Gold', the flowers are an intermediate colour between pink and mauve. After pollination by insects, they give way to pods that contain round, black seeds surrounded by a white, sticky substance.

The Spring Gold Bleeding Heart is very easy to grow in most regions, except where hot and dry in summer. It finds a place in cottage gardens or natural gardens, always in a cool and shaded position. It can be associated with other perennials that do not mind competition from tree or shrub roots. Pair it with Solomon's Seal, the little forget-me-not Omphalodes verna, hardy Fuchsias, corydalis, creeping Bugleweed, Japanese Anemones, Balkan Foxglove, and a carpet of small periwinkles for example. This Bleeding Heart can also be grown in a pot to adorn the terrace or balcony, in a semi-shaded position.

Most Bleeding Hearts go dormant in summer, but this does not have any detrimental effect.