Bang! Ka-pow! Ooooooh! Aaaaahhh! What better way to usher in the holiday than with this firecracker of a plant? Dicentra formosa, a California native for shade, at first glance seems more at home in the Japanese garden amongst Hostas or even Coleus, yet thrives in areas alongside Yarrow, Columbines, or Snowberry. This particular plant, 'Burning Hearts' is a hybrid with blue-green, divided foliage and an incredible bright, candy scent. Even better, it promises to bloom from March to September!
Sun: Part shade to shade
Soil: Well-drained
Plant: Anytime, but Autumn is probably best- right before the Winter rains come
Buy it: Hmmm, I got this from the wholesale nursery, so I can't honestly say. Ask your local nursery if they can order this particular hybrid, but order the true-blood native from California Flora Nursery, Oaktown Native Nursery, or East Bay Wilds.
Good for: Color! In shade! Japanese-style native gardens, tea party gardens, fragrant gardens, attracting hummingbirds, watercolor artists looking for new muses.
