Dicentra scandens
My wife and I were on a garden tour yesterday which featured many
interesting and new (to us) gardens here in the East Bay of the SF Bay
Area. in a couple of these was the same vine - Dicentra scandens - which
we both loved. Not particularly mediterranean climate, but certainly
adaptable. It grew in shade and climbed an Abutilon in one case and
Buddleia lindleyana in another. We have a shady spot which would likely be
perfect for this delicate looking vine. The leaves were compound, with
rounded lobes, and the small clusters of yellow flowers hung copiously at
the top portion of the stems. They look very much like Corydalis in shape.
I'm wondering if anyone has experience with this plant in a mediterranean
climate. Both gardens were moister than ours, and in a cooler part of
town. Our garden get much hotter, but the place we have in mind is the
shady and perhaps might have more moister than the rest of the garden. I
understand that it does down to the ground in winter, but comes quickly
back. Any information would be greatly appreciated, included where I might
obtain this gem (seed or plants?). Both garden owners felt that this
species was available somewhere but were not at all specific about where!
Sean O.
Sean A. O'Hara sean.ohara@poboxes.com
h o r t u l u s a p t u s 710 Jean Street
'a garden suited to its purpose' Oakland, CA 94610-1459, U.S.A.
Michael Barclay, D.Lett. opga@wenet.net
Opera Education International/OEI
400 Yale Ave, Berkeley, CA 94708-1109
http://www.operalover.net Please visit our website soon.
