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Wendy Brister grew up gardening, went on to college to learn more about plants, and is now – in a variety of ways - sharing with others the horticulture knowledge she has spent her life learning. Brister is an adjunct faculty member at Harrisburg Area Community College specializing in herbaceous plants. She is a consultant, lecturer and a landscape designer. She holds a BS in Landscape Architecture from Temple University Ambler. The self-described plant geek, with a special affection for perennial plants, lives in Eastern York County with her husband Brian, daughter Emma and her dog, Clinger.
Diggin' the Natives – Cutleaf Bleeding Heart
by Wendy Brister · April 8, 2010
Many times a shade garden becomes a tapestry of foliage and textures by late summer, but one exception to this is our native Cutleaf Bleeding Heart which starts showing us dainty pink heart-shaped blooms in May and continues into the fall. Unlike the old fashioned species that our grandmothers grew – Dicentra eximia does not go summer dormant and reaches a petite 12-18” tall. Fern-like leaves add a soft green-gray texture to the part to full shade garden. Prefers rich, moist soils so try to avoid areas with lots of competition from tree roots. Zones 4-9.