GBBD: Lady in the Bath


One of my favourite plants for May is Dicentra spectabilis* because it always gives such good value in the shaded part of my garden. From the first sinister looking unfurling fronds in February/March - which look like dragon's claws - until it flowers in May/June, Dicentra adds a lot of interest and also helps to disguise the dying foliage of the daffodils. Until this morning I hadn't realised I'd placed it to catch the sun so nicely. Gardening serendipity is a Very Good Thing.

One of the common names for this plant is lady in the bath, which always makes me chuckle. Garden chuckles are another Very Good Thing in my view :)

Garden Bloggers' Blooms Day is hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens - have a fantastic time at the Asheville Fling this weekend Carol!

* yes I know it has a new latin name - the more forgettable Lamprocapnos spectabilis - but I see most suppliers are still insisting on the old one

Comments

  1. Unknown15 May 2012 at 12:21

    Beautiful flowers and strange name :) I know them mainly by another colloquial term, 'Bleeding Heart', though have never tried growing them myself. Very tempting though!

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  2. Lisa15 May 2012 at 12:33

    I know them as bleeding heart too :) I don't much like that shade of pink but the white one is one of my absolute garden favourites.

    ReplyDelete
  3. commonweeder15 May 2012 at 13:12

    Knowing both of these new names is a delight. I was not aware the taxonomists were at it again. It will always be bleeding hearts to me.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax!15 May 2012 at 13:27

    They're horrifying when they come up. Monsters from outer space. Then they turn all beautiful and elegant and . . one of my favourite flowers.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dee/reddirtramblings15 May 2012 at 15:09

    Never heard that common name, but it made me chuckle mightily. Happy Bloom Day!~~Dee

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dobby15 May 2012 at 20:43

    It's a Bleeding Heart. Why do the so called experts have to keep changing the names of things? Very frustrating. I love them though. Have a nice one in my garden.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anna15 May 2012 at 22:28

    One of my absolute favourite spring flowers VP. I'm refusing to use its new official name which is far too clumsy sounding for such a beautiful plant.

    ReplyDelete
  8. bookworm16 May 2012 at 02:12

    Here in the United States, we know this plant as bleeding heart, as several other commenters have mentioned. They do well here in upstate New York where I live, but I have never had good luck with the red/white ones. Only the yellow ones, for some reason. Happy GBBD from "across the pond."

    ReplyDelete
  9. Donna@Gardens Eye View16 May 2012 at 02:13

    Oh I love bleeding hearts...mine are not blooming because the April weather was so cold for so long. Happy GBBD

    ReplyDelete
  10. Shirley16 May 2012 at 08:31

    It’s a long time since I’ve had this plant in my garden, VP. I always admire it. Yes, garden chuckles are good :-D

    I know this plant as bleeding heart but do smile when it’s called lady in the bath. Another name - Dutchman's breeches makes me chuckle :-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. petoskystone16 May 2012 at 16:24

    I love Bleeding Hearts :) It's on my short list for planting if I ever get access to a fence.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wife, Mother, Gardener16 May 2012 at 20:19

    I did not know that the name had been changed! yikes. Nothing is sacred.

    They are beautiful none the less!

    ReplyDelete
  13. VP19 May 2012 at 09:41

    Hi everyone - thanks for your comments. Yes, Bleeding Heart is probably the best known common name for this flower. I like Dutchman's Breeches too.

    The name change was quite a while ago, but garden centres in particular are sticking steadfastly with the old name which, I think, most of us can remember better! I was chatting to a scientist at Kew a couple of weeks ago - for them the name changes are far more than we experience. He said sometimes the reclassifications are v surprising, but when you look closely again at the taxonomy, the characteristics are usually there, even if they can be a bit hard to spot!

    A warm welcome to Bookworm and Wife, Mother, Gardener - thanks for stopping by :)

    ReplyDelete

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