Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
White Diamonds Fernleaf Bleeding Heart: A Sun-Tolerant White Heart
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White Diamonds fernleaf bleeding heart is not your grandmother's bleeding heart. It is an alpine type that prefers sun and sharp drainage, keeps its foliage all summer instead of going dormant and blooms from late spring into fall, with a peak in early summer.
Small, puffy white hearts open from cream buds and dangle on slender arching stems above very finely cut, lacy, blue-green leaves with a soft powdery finish. The whole plant stays a tidy, rounded clump about 14 to 16 inches tall.
White Diamonds at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Dicentra 'White Diamonds' |
| Flowers | Pure white hearts from cream buds, about ¾ inch long |
| Foliage | Lacy, fern-like, blue-green with a powdery finish |
| Size | 14 to 16 inches tall, 16 to 20 inches wide |
| Bloom | Late May into fall, peaking mid-June |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun to light part shade |
| Deer | Resistant |
A bleeding heart that likes lavender's company
Most bleeding hearts belong in a damp woodland. This one is different, and that is what makes it useful in a lavender garden. It likes lavender's sun and good drainage, and it does not want a shady, damp spot. Its blue, lacy leaves pick up the cool silver of lavender foliage, and the fine texture keeps the planting soft and airy.
Use it at the front of the border or at the corners of a lavender bed, where the white hearts and lace leaves frame the purple. Its long bloom season covers the gap before lavender opens and carries on after the harvest. If your site gets blazing afternoon sun, tuck it on the east side of taller plants to soften the hottest hours. Try placements in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Drainage: excellent drainage is the key. Its fleshy crowns rot in soggy soil.
- Water: water during long dry spells; it keeps its foliage as long as the soil does not dry out completely.
- Midsummer: trim off any tired foliage to refresh the mound.
- Fall: cut back the foliage after frost.
- Winter: very hardy; avoid heavy mulch directly over the crown.
It is generally trouble-free. Dense, wet foliage in long damp spells can pick up leaf spot or downy mildew, so give it airflow.
Containers and rock gardens
White Diamonds is compact enough for containers and looks right at home in a rock garden. In a pot, use a gritty, fast-draining mix, just as you would for lavender. Hummingbirds visit the flowers, and the blossoms carry a light, sweet scent up close.
About the plug tray
It is offered as a full 72-cell plug tray, enough for a long edging or a season of container plantings. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Does it go dormant in summer like old-fashioned bleeding heart?
No. This fernleaf type keeps its foliage through summer as long as the soil does not dry out completely.
Is it safe for pets?
All parts contain alkaloids and are toxic if eaten, and the sap can irritate skin. Plant it where pets and children will not chew it.
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