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Dicentra eximia

Fringed Bleeding Heart · Turkey-corn · Wild Bleeding Heart · Turkey Corn

Family PapaveraceaeGenus Dicentra

Pink locket-shaped flowers hanging in a row from an arching stalk above ferny foliage
FlowerOriginal uploader was Halpaugh at en.wikipediaPublic domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Perennial, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
0.5-1.5 ft15-45 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
1.5-2 ft45-60 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Pink, Purple/LavenderExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Native to the lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
3-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Dappled Sunlight; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic MatterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    2 germinated in this phase.

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    6 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

25% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Dicentra p. 132Public domain
Show the original text
Dicentra (Fumariaceae). DS is either fatal or severely deleterious. J. Forrest reported that D. eximia germ. best with fresh seed in 40-70(25%)-40(2%)-70(6%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. 40(23%), a curious divergence in behavior between fresh and DS seed. Germination completely failed with both kinds of seed when sown at 70 even after several cycles. Seed DS 6 m at 70 was dead and all rotted. The seeds germinate by first splitting. Radicle and cotyledon development does not take place until 2-4 w later.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Dicentra p. 132. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

about 6 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

23% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Dicentra p. 132Public domain
Show the original text
Dicentra (Fumariaceae). DS is either fatal or severely deleterious. J. Forrest reported that D. eximia germ. best with fresh seed in 40-70(25%)-40(2%)-70(6%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. 40(23%), a curious divergence in behavior between fresh and DS seed. Germination completely failed with both kinds of seed when sown at 70 even after several cycles. Seed DS 6 m at 70 was dead and all rotted. The seeds germinate by first splitting. Radicle and cotyledon development does not take place until 2-4 w later.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Dicentra p. 132. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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