Plant of the week

Wild bleeding heart
Dicentra formosa 'Aurora'

Shade-loving, fast-growing, dwarf perennial with arching stems of creamy white, heart-shaped flowers that are produced from late spring to late summer. The blue-green, fern-like foliage forms a soft mound, and is a lovely foil to other plants, too. As long as the ground is kept moist, it will thrive in full sun or partial shade.

Origin: Part of a small genus that includes both annuals and perennials that hail from the northern hemisphere, growing anywhere from Asia to North America. In their natural habitats they are found in moist soils in the cool margins of woodlands.

Grow with: : : Easy to grow, it looks great planted en masse as a groundcover at the front of a shady border or as part of a cottage garden scheme. Combine with other shade-loving plants, such as hardy ferns, hellebores, hostas and Solomon's seal, to brighten up gloomy corners and melancholy borders.