DUTCHMAN'S WHITE BLEEDING HEART Dicentra cucullaria
Dicentra cucullaria, Dutchman's britches, or Dutchman's breeches, is a perennial herbaceous plant native to rich woods of eastern North America.
The common name Dutchman's breeches derives from their white flowers that look like white breeches. The flowers are usually white, rarely suffused with pink, produced in early spring in racemes of 3 to 14 flowers on the flower stalks 12–25 cm tall. The foliage is blueish green.
Type: Hardy perennial
Hardiness zones: 5-8
Location: Part shade or full shade
Seeds per pack: 5
Germination: These seeds have fairly reliable germination. As with many perennials, these seeds benefit from a period of moist cold to help them break dormancy. This is done by giving them a cold 'winter' period (artificial or natural), and then a warming to simulate 'spring', and time to grow! Here's how this can be done:
Obtain a planting container that has holes in the bottom for excess water to drain. Place the seeds just under the surface of your growing medium, and water. Place your container in a cool area (but not freezing) for 4-5 weeks. Once the cool period is completed, place the container at room temperature for them to germinate. Be sure to keep the soil moist during this entire germination period. Seedlings will sprout a few weeks, or occasionally several months, after the warming period.
