Japanese name: ハナケマンソウ（花華鬘草） Scientific name:Dicentra formosa
[Overview]
A perennial 30–60 cm tall that spreads widely sideways.
It has underground stems.
The whole plant is hairless and tinged with a powdery white bloom.
The leaves grow from the base and are finely divided, 3–4 times pinnately.
A raceme at the tip of a long flower stalk bears 5–15 drooping flowers.
The flowers are reddish purple or white with 4 petals; the 2 outer petals are boat-shaped, and the 2 inner ones are fused at the top, making the whole flower a slender heart shape.
It flowers in early summer, but may bloom again in autumn.
The fruit is a capsule.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by division.
It prefers partial shade and fertile, well-drained, moderately moist soil.
For both plants in the ground and potted plants, water when the soil surface dries.
It is weak against excess moisture in winter and dryness in summer.
Apply slow-release fertilizer as a base fertilizer, and it is also good to give diluted liquid fertilizer about once a week in spring and autumn.
If you do not intend to collect seed, cut off the flower stalks as soon as possible after flowering to enjoy a second bloom.
Pests and diseases include powdery mildew, downy mildew, blast, Fusarium head blight, rust, aphids, slugs and armyworms.
