Dicenter is a grassy plant from the poppy family. It was first discovered in East Asia (Japan), whence it came from the beginning of the 19th century. a tender beauty with unusual colors spread throughout Europe and gained extraordinary popularity. Dicentra buds resemble a heart broken below. A drop-like core peeps out of it. Because of this structure, the dicenter received the second name - “broken heart” or “crying heart”. The very name from Greek translates as "double-spokesman." For some time, gardeners have forgotten about this unusual flower, but in recent years the center has been gaining popularity again.
Plant description
The genus of dicentres combines several varieties of annual and perennial herbs with branched vertical or dying sprouts. The branched rhizome goes deep into the ground. On it fleshy thickenings similar to palmate tubers are formed. A sprawling spherical or oval bush 0.3-1 m high is formed above the ground.
The fleshy stems are covered with smooth reddish-olive skin. They are highly branched and almost devoid of leaves. Separate cirrus-dissected leaves grow far from each other. Large petiole leaves are painted in olive or dark green in color and are concentrated in a basal leaf rosette.
At the ends of the branches in May, unilateral racemose blossoms resembling marvelous necklaces blossom. Under the weight of the buds, the branch bends in an arc. Each flower hangs on a thin and flexible peduncle. Corolla flattened, it has 2 spurs. The upper part of the bud resembles a heart, and from below the petals diverge a little and a petal rolled into a tube peeps out into the slot. Coloring of flowers depends on the variety. It can be a different shade of yellow or pink, as well as pure white. The flattened heart is about 2 cm long.
The first wave of flowering lasts 3-4 weeks. By mid-summer, flowers fade, but lush green foliage persists. After a few weeks, and it dries, and the bush falls apart. Only a few young shoots remain. In August, when the heat subsides, it is time to bloom again.
After pollination, small seed bolls ripen on the shoots, inside which small black seeds are located. They have an oblong shape and a shiny surface. Germination capacity lasts 2 years.
Types of Dicentres
In total, there are 8 types of dicentres in the family. In gardening, not everyone is used, but decorative varieties are famous for their greater popularity.
The dicenter is magnificent (spectabilis). Branched shoots form a large, spreading bush about 1 m high. The edges of the branches are decorated with one-sided racemose inflorescences about 15 cm long. Cirrus-dissected leaves with small lobes are concentrated at the base of branches in dense rosettes. Bare fleshy stems are covered with drooping flowers with a diameter of up to 25 mm. Flowering begins in late May and lasts 2.5-3 months. The species hibernates in open ground (with shelter) when it gets cold to -35 ° C. Varieties:
- Alba - with plain white flowers;
- Gold Hart - Golden yellow foliage sets off pinkish petals with a pink and white drop.
The center is beautiful. The plant is native to North America (California). It forms a sprawling bush up to 30 cm high with green palmately divided foliage in basal rosettes. Fleshy stems end with arched tassels 10-15 cm long. Purple-pink heart-shaped buds with a diameter of about 2 cm grow on them. Varieties:
- Aurora - pale pink hearts with a white drop;
- Bacchanal - an oval bush up to 40 cm high consists of openwork bright green leaves and racemose inflorescences with large bright red flowers and a light pink drop.
The center is exceptional. A low-growing sprawling plant up to 25 cm tall is characterized by dark green cirrus-dissected leaves, similar to fern foliage. Flowering of this species begins in late May and continues until mid-autumn. She is not afraid of even extreme heat. Thin branches with drooping tassels are covered with white-pink bicolor buds.
Climbing dicenter. This original variety has the shape of a vine with flexible branches up to 2 m long. Stems spread on the ground or climb on a support. Petiole ternate leaves grow along the entire length of the vine. Inflorescences bloom not only at the ends of branches, but also in nodes. A very popular variety is the Golden Vines dicenter. It is distinguished by unusually bright yellow flowers in the form of hearts.
Breeding methods
Dicenter propagated by seeds, division of the bush and cuttings. Seed propagation is considered rather laborious, therefore it is rarely used in practice. Sowing is carried out in August-September. You need to use well-ripened material, which is difficult to obtain in a temperate climate. Seeds are distributed in plates with sandy peat soil, covered with a film and kept at a temperature of + 18 ... + 20 ° C. Seedlings are expected in a month. Usually 50-70% of seeds germinate. With the advent of two true leaves, plants dive right into the open ground. Before the onset of cold weather, seedlings will have time to adapt. During the first wintering, it is very important to provide good shelter from the frost with the help of a thick layer of peat and humus. Flowering begins in 2-3 years of life.
Since April, the dicenter can be propagated by cuttings. To do this, use root processes with a heel 12-15 cm long. They are rooted in moist nutrient soil. First you need shelter from a plastic bottle or glass jar. They take it off later. In the first year, cuttings are grown indoors, and next spring they are planted in open ground.
A good result is the propagation of dicentres by dividing the rhizome. Do this in early autumn or early spring. A well-overgrown bush is carefully dug up and the roots are freed from an earthen coma. For several hours, the rhizomes are dried, and then the thickened part is cut into parts with a sterile blade. Each divide must contain 3-4 growth points. Slices are sprinkled with crushed charcoal and planted in shallow pits in groups of up to 2-3 pieces. After planting, the plants are watered.
Outdoor Care
The dicenter grows well in open sunny areas and in partial shade. In the midday hours it is better if a shadow falls on it. With intense lighting, the bush will have a lower height and abundant flowering. And in the shade, shoots grow better, but flowering begins a few weeks later.
It is important to choose the right place for landing, as the dicenter will settle on it for the next 5-8 years. The plant is undemanding to the soil, but feels better on nutrient and loose soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. Dicentra prefers rocky and arid areas.
Water the plant should be moderate, only with a prolonged absence of natural rainfall. Twice a month, flowers need to be fed. Use a solution of superphosphate or nitrophosphate, as well as mullein and leafy humus. The soil near it is regularly loosened to break a dense crust on the surface and remove weeds.
If frost is expected in the spring after the emergence of new shoots, the dicenter needs to be covered with non-woven material. In total, the shoots grow greatly during the season, but no aggressive behavior has been noticed behind the center. It does not capture new territories and does not oppress the neighbors in the flower garden.
After flowering, dry brushes are recommended to be trimmed. In autumn, the entire ground part is removed, which also has time to dry. Stumps up to 3-5 cm high remain on the ground. Although garden varieties are winter-hardy, to protect them from frost, the soil should be covered with a thick layer of peat and mulled with fallen leaves.
The dicenter is extremely ill, but nevertheless you can find signs of ring blotch and tobacco mosaic on it (light or dry spots and rings on the foliage). To combat diseases, it is necessary to observe the irrigation regime and periodically treat plants and soil with fungicides. Broken heart pests rarely attack. Only occasionally does aphid settle on it, which can be quickly destroyed by Biotlin, Fitoverm, or another specific insecticide.
Garden use
The center serves as an excellent landscaper and decor for the arid corners of the garden, rockeries, rock gardens, rocky slopes. It is used in mixed landings or in solo groups. The plant can be planted not only in open ground, but also in large flowerpots to decorate a balcony or terrace.
In the flowerbed, the dicenter is combined with tulips, hosts, hyacinths, daffodils, bought and the medunica. Inflorescences will stand in a vase for 1-1.5 weeks, so they can be used to make bouquets and decorate the room.
