MEMBERS of the dicentra family are making their mark in the garden this month. The first to appear in our garden is Dicentra spectabilis, the bleeding heart, with long, fleshy stems, deeply-cut foliage and red and white heart shaped-flowers that will open in April if the weather is kind.

As the name suggests, this is a spectacular spring plant that will grow into a large clump if the conditions are right. It likes humus rich soil and semi-shade and is best left alone as long as possible before dividing, because the roots and stems are very brittle and easily damaged if disturbed.

Dicentra spectabilis dies back once it has flowered but Dicentra formosa has a longer season of interest, producing sprays of flowers in spring and summer and a spreading clump of ferny leaves until late summer.

The flowers are dull pink and heart shaped and held both above the foliage and lower down, nestling among the leaves. Like other dicentra, D.formosa prefers semi-shade where growth will be lush.

The hybrid Dicentra 'Bacchanal' is similar in size with the same ferny foliage but the flowers are deep red and stand out well against the leaves.

Other hybrids include 'Adrian Bloom' with grey leaves and crimson flowers for most of the summer, strong growing and crimson flowered 'Bountiful', 'Langtrees' and 'Pearl Drops' both vigorous and with white flowers and 'Stuart Bootham' with grey leaves and soft pink flowers.

In our garden, this plant seems delicate and slow growing; at the moment it has only one leaf and no flowers, while D.formosa and 'Bacchanal' have formed a large, mingling clump of foliage and flowers.

Updated: 10:01 Saturday, May 17, 2003