dicentra

Hello, my dicentra came very early this year, when they are looking a little tired, can they be cut back and will they come again? or should I just leave them to die back?

 

Hi Jill, I always left mine to die back, working on the same principle as daffies, but I don't know if this is right. They do look a mess while they are doing it.

 

Hi JillD, it is best to leave them to die back naturally as Celia says, luckily this doesn't take too long.

 

thanks for your help, i didn't want to ruin them, they have been lovely this year

 

You can trim them back a bit, and you will get some more growth, but it doesn't last long, and it does look a bit tatty while it dies back. Pity, but it does give a glorious show for quite a while, so we ought to forgive it! :D

 

I have got some small pink dicentra [ I think it's Formosa] Which flowers for much longer as long as I keep dead- heading the flowers. With the spectabilis I keep cutting off any yellowing growth, but always leave some seedheads to set, then I get self-sown seedlings the next year, or I collect seed for sowing somewhere else. Like the aquilegias, if you cut them back you can get nice green foliage.

 

Yes, I do the same as you, Liz.