About
An annual climber with delicately cut foliage and hanging clusters of yellow, locket-shaped flowers. Grown mostly for its striking seed pods, to 15cm, terracotta red and beaded, which open to show black and white seeds.
About the genus
Dactylicapnos (formerly included in Dicentra) are frost-tender deciduous climbing perennials or annuals, with compound or pinnate leaves, and flowers with heart-shaped outer petals which are characteristically pouched at the base, convergent to the tips, then bent outwards. These are usually borne in small, sometimes hanging, clusters, followed by pods, some strikingly inflated
Growing conditions
SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeLoam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeClimber Wall Shrub
HabitClimbing
FoliageDeciduous
Height4-8 metres
Spread1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height1-2 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, City and courtyard gardens
Native toS China to India
ToxicityCan cause stomach upset if ingested and contact with foliage may aggravate skin allergies. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Care notes
CultivationGrow in partial shade in a moist, but well-drained soil. A soil rich in leaf mould is ideal. May self-seed
PruningCut back foliage down to ground level at end of growing season
PropagationPropagate by seed; sown fresh seed in vermiculite or grit and placing in a cold frame through winter (stratifying). Also can be propagated by semi-ripe cuttings in June
Pest resistanceSlugs and snails may be problematic
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free