Dicentra spectabilis?

[shadylanejewel]

Need to know your opinions - then I'll tell you why.

[Old earth dog]

I don't recall any of mine lasting more than 5-6 years. I always blamed my Silver Maple tree.

[Robyn]

I love them but they just get too big. I end up moving and dividing every couple years because I can't bear to throw them away. I will have to throw out next year because I don't have anyone else to give them to and I have a ton of seedlings coming up. Maybe I should offer them for postage in the spring. Does anyone know if they ship well.

[Doris_J]

Mine have been long-lived, but I'm thinking that's because I live in the Pacific Northwest. They do seem to love it here.

[Blackkat]

Mine is 3 years old and a monster. Do they ever stop growing? Next spring, I'm going to have to divide it.

[LadyR]

I've have two that I've had for going on 6 or 7 years?...maybe longer. I have no problems. Have had a white one too for several years.

Roberta

[Dirtpig120]

Oh man..I've had two for 15 years or so.Now I have them all over,reseeding.LOL
Mine are under maples and doing just fine,bigger then life.
I pull seedling all the time.I wouldn't be with out one or two or three... I have pink,white and the gold leaf one(it's gorgeous).
Dirtpig

[Old earth dog]

Never had mine reseed. Both of mine are just about burnt out for the year now.

[shadylanejewel]

I forgot all about my Poll.

Here is the reason I wanted other opinions.

I gave a garden class earlier this month on shade perennials (mostly hostas as that is how the class was advertised).

When asked about other perennials as companion plants, I said one of my favorites is Dicentra spectabilis (it is the photo on the front of my brochure).

Another nursery member said "Yeah if you're looking for a short lived perennial - D. spectabilis is great". In my experience, I've had my pink ones for over 15 years. The white ones for about 6 years. I also have a pink with green/gold variegated leaves which I've had for at least 10 years. These plants are not seedlings and I've only found a few of those here and there. Definitely not like overly prolific like some hardy geraniums or stachy's. They do tend to go dormant by mid summer without sufficient water.

Might not be an real accurate poll since only 12 voted and there were over 130 views. But still IMO D. spectabilis is a great "Hardy" perennial I wouldn't be without!!!