Dicentra spectabilis Ruby Gold

Dicentra spectabilis 'Ruby Gold' is a beautiful improvement on the Gold Heart Bleeding Heart, which it surpasses in terms of vigour and colour. Its golden foliage, almost orange on young shoots, beautifully complements abundant, bright vermilion red flowers. This selection combines qualities sought after for decorating shaded and moist areas of the garden. It withstands our winters and adapts to any ordinary soil that remains moist. During the summer, this perennial goes into dormancy, losing its foliage.

Dicentra Ruby Gold is derived from Dicentra (or Lamprocapnos) spectabilis, native to forests in eastern Asia, southern Siberia, and Japan. It belongs to the Papaveraceae family, or Fumariaceae according to classifications. It is a rhizomatous and deciduous perennial plant, which disappears in winter and reappears in spring. Ruby Gold rapidly forms a bushy clump in a few years, reaching a height of 65 cm (26in) and a spread of 90 cm (35in). The plant spreads laterally through trailing rhizomes, allowing it to expand if conditions are favourable.

Its stems emerge from the ground in spring and bear delicate divided, pinnate leaves. Initially orange, they quickly turn to golden yellow and then yellow slightly tinged with chartreuse. Flowering is in May-June depending on the climate, and can continue until July if the soil remains sufficiently moist, otherwise Bleeding Heart goes into dormancy in summer. Sturdy floral stems rise 80 cm (32in) from the ground with 3 to 15 pendulous flowers at the end, 3 to 5 cm (1 to 2in) high and 2 to 3 cm (1in) wide. Each flower consists of outer petals forming a heart and inner arrow-shaped petals, brilliant red in 'Ruby Gold'. After pollination by insects, they have pods containing round, black seeds enclosed in a white and sticky substance.

Ruby Gold Bleeding Heart is very easy to grow in most regions but does not like climates that are too hot and dry in summer. It finds a place in cottage gardens or those inspired by nature, always in a cool and shaded location. It can be associated with other perennials that are not afraid of competition from tree or shrub roots. Consider Purple Heucheras, Columbines, Solomon's Seal, Hardy Fuchsias, Corydalis, Creeping Bugle, Japanese Anemones, and a carpet of Periwinkles, for example.

Most Bleeding Hearts go into dormancy in summer, but this has no impact on the plants' health.