'Underplanting' Dicentra Spectabilis

Not sure if underplanting is the right word, hence putting it in inverted commas. I have a beautiful clump that looks superb in April/May, but come this time of year looks tatty and brown.

I'm looking for recommendations for late blooming perennials that could go in front of the Dicentra (and when it's blooming underneath!), with the idea that as it fades and slowly dies back, they will come into their own, growing up to cover the tatty foliage. I know that Dicentra can be cut back about this time of year...but that still leaves a bare space to fill or at least hide! Conveniently, when in bloom the border would be considered dappled shade, but come this time of year it gets more sunshine.

As I am in the process of changing the colour scheme of this border, with an emphasis on blues, purples, pinks and reds, I would (ideally!) like suggestions that fit into those colours!:D My only ideas have been pink Japanese Anemones or perhaps Asters...but more than open to what others suggest...:thumb:

 

I love Japanese anemones, but they are very vigorous and there's always the danger that before long the only things you'll have in the border are anemones. A large specimen next door is current colonising the lawn! Asters sound be nice, but I've no experience of growing them (I think Shiney does!). I think some of them can be martyrs to mildew.

I know some people think they're bit dull, but I like cranesbills. They'll put up with any amount of neglect/cutting back and will still come back smiling. Many have rather a short flowering season, but 'Jolly Bee' doesn't set seed, so it will go on and on until the first frosts. It has nice little blue saucer-shaped flowers.

 

Oh dear. A blank thumbnail. Very useful. How about this one?

 

Hmmm, I don't seem to have much luck with Cranesbills - they bloom once then that's it. But...those ones look rather pretty and if they are genuinely repeat bloomers, then one to consider. Cheers.

I know Japanese Anemones are known for spreading wildly, but I never seem to have this problem. Getting them to bloom in other parts of the garden seems to be more of a challenge, so perhaps in this location (more suited to them) might be better.

 

The trick with cranesbills is to buy varieties which don't set seed. Then the poor things will go on and on in a desperate attempt to reproduce themselves! As well as Jolly Bee, there's my favourite, 'Ann Folkard', which has bright magenta flowers with a dark eye and nice golden-toned leaves. It will go on blooming well into October, and drapes itself through fading neighbours in a very obliging way. Peter posted some nice pictures of a geranium called 'Patricia', which I believe is one of the mainstays of his border, as it too just goes on and on.

 

I was going to have a moan that a lot of the problem is finding these lesser known Cranesbills...but then I went to the website of my favourite nursery (in Hartfield, E Sussex) and they have them (well, apart from Jolly Bee)!

So...Cranesbill for the very front of the border. What could go behind it, as there will still be room and I hate to leave a gap, especially with the Dicentra dying away and doing that for me!

 

If there's enough sunshine, nerines would be nice. I think it's such a surprise to see bulbs so late in the season. They like to be well-drained, however, and I think you're on clay?? One way round things is to grow them in pots and sink them in the border when they're in flower. They grow to about half a metre in height.

 

Aaron

Thanks for raising this question and Clare, thanks for providing as answer.

I''ve got three dicentras, which I love and were outstanding in late spring/early summer, but now of course, they look like a disaster area. I need some new ideas too!

 

I forgot to mention that I have them partly underplanted with Crocosmia Lucifer.

It would also help to know when is 'safe' to cut back the Dicentra to allow light in to later emerging perennials. I know they happily die back of their own accord, from June onwards, but will next years flowering be affected if I give them a helping hand? I don't seem to remember doing anything last summer, but things were a bit different then.

 

Geranium 'Rozanne' seems to be exactly the same as 'Jolly Bee' - in fact there has been a big battle over the rights to this plant recently.

Another plant which is a stalwart of the late border is the hardy fuchsia. For ages, I didn't much like fuchsias, but now I've come to appreciate their ability to go on producing tons flowers well into the autumn. They don't mind shade and you can prune them back hard each year.

 

I've seen a Dicentra inadvertently underplanted with Verbena Bonariensis (self seeded) which looked fabulous.

Well, I thought it looked pretty good but if I was to do it myself I'd consider a nice semi circular clump of Verbena in front and to the sides of the Dicentra as long as it didn't look too contrived. It would add some purple if anything! Might give it a go myself come to think of it :skp:

 

Interesting idea.

 

I think there has been a final ruling on 'Jolly Bee'. Van Nort has been told to stop selling it as its DNA is too similar to 'Rozanne' to be called a seperate plant. I gather that there is another blue sterile hybrid called 'Orion', which is also very long flowering. But I have never seen it.

SussexG. I also would like to grow something up through my Dicentra, which does nothing at this time of the year. I have no space in front of it, but if I did I might try Cosmos. In a good year Cosmos can grow into a huge mass of flower and foliage and cover anything. But the foliage is very fine and I feel it wouldn't smother anything underneath.

 

Wow! Geranium wars!

I looked Jolly Bee up on my favourite nursery website and they only sell Roxanne...but either Patricia or Roxanne would do my needs I think. Long blooming and pretty are the requirements!

Peter, once the Dicentra has got to this stage, I use one of those metal hoop things to push back the dying foliage, therefore giving whatever is emerging in front and underneath it room to grow and not get forced forward.

 

My Dicentra is surrounded by Day Lilies/Astilbe and Alchemilla Mollis after being cut back end of May /June it seems to come back OK. The Astilbe is a good companion as its leaves allow light onto the Dicentra.

Why do they never tackle these sort of problems on Gardeners World/etc. I'm still working at whether or not to cut back my Paeonies as they take up far too much space for too long...........