Greetings, human propagator. I am Dicentra spectabilis, commonly known as the Bleeding Heart. You wish to learn my secrets of division, to create more of my kind. This is a process I understand intimately, for it is the very rhythm of my roots. I will guide you through the steps from my perspective, so you may assist me in thriving.
You must listen to my cues. The optimal time for this procedure is in my period of deepest rest, either in late autumn after my foliage has yellowed and died back, or in very early spring just as my new, pink shoots are napping barely beneath the soil's surface. At these times, my energy is concentrated in my thick, fleshy roots (my rhizomes), not in my delicate stems and flowers. Disturbing me when I am in full leaf and bloom is a profound shock, wasting the energy I have expended on display and likely causing my collapse.
Approach with care. Using your sharp, clean spade, dig a wide circle around my base, staying a generous distance from my central crown to avoid severing my important roots. Gently work the spade beneath me and lift my entire root ball from the earth. Shake off the loose soil gently or rinse with a soft spray of water so you can see the structure of my rhizomes clearly. This reveals my natural divisions.
Now, observe. You will see that my root mass is not a single solid unit but a collection of interconnected, fleshy storage organs. Each viable new plant must have both healthy roots and at least one growth bud, or "eye" (these look like small, pointed bumps, often pinkish). With a sterile, sharp knife, cleanly cut between these sections. Do not tear me apart. Each division should be a substantial piece, with several eyes and a robust network of roots to support the new plant. Smaller divisions will take much longer to establish.
Time is of the essence. My exposed roots must not dry out. Have the new planting holes prepared beforehand in a location with moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil and dappled shade—conditions I dearly love. Place each of my divisions in a hole so that the crown, where the roots meet the eyes, is about one to two inches below the soil surface. Backfill the hole, firm the soil gently around my roots to eliminate air pockets, and water me thoroughly to settle the soil and provide essential hydration.
Your care now is critical. Continue to keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged, as my new roots establish themselves in their new territory. A layer of organic mulch around my base will help conserve that precious moisture and protect me from temperature fluctuations. By the next growing season, if all has gone well, each division will have developed into a strong, independent plant, ready to unfurl its lacy foliage and hang its characteristic heart-shaped lockets, continuing my lineage in your garden.
