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Bleeding heart and ligularia issues

15 years ago

I have a huge bleeding heart that has bloomed rather sparsely the last 2 springs. The first time I put in down to the weather (both springs have been cold and dry), but now I'm wondering if it needs dividing. The ligularia isn't that large or old, but only has 2 flower stems this year, and the plant overall seems smaller.

So if dividing is the answer, when and how do I do it? I don't want to kill this bleeding heart as it is a massive plant and quite attractive even when not in bloom.

Thanks for your help.

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Comment (1)

leo_prairie_view
15 years ago
We have had just the opposite experience this year with our Bleeding Heart. It is still putting out new blossoms on the last day of July. Usually it has gone dormant before this. We have had a cool growing season so far and that it what they seem to like. If it were too dry it would turn yellow and go dormant so we do have to water it occasionally. They are pretty near indestructible. We had Chinese elms where the perennial bed now is and I thought I was digging up a leftover root when my wife stopped me and told me it was the Bleeding Heart root I was chopping out. It came back like nothing happened the next spring.
Leo
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I think I will give it a good drink of water today and see. I've never had issues with this plant in the 5 years it's been in the same spot. We've had a dry spring with major temp. fluctuations. - 80's in March and 40's in May. It's in dry sandy soil and I do water it, but maybe it needs more. It's in partial shade, but it's been there for several years. I might check to see if there is something going on with the stems that I can't see from the surface.
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