Dicentra chrysantha, Ehrendorferia chrysantha * Golden Eardrops
Dicentra chrysantha has a new official name Ehrendorferia chrysantha. Both are still used in the nursery trade. The first time that I saw the yellow flowers of Golden Eardrops from a distance I was wondering what kind of crazy mustard is that? Then as I came closer I realized that it was a yellow bleeding hearts with the flowers upside down, or maybe it is really right side up. The ferny foliage and the exotic looking flowers have made a lasting impression on me. Dicentra chrysantha grows fantastically following a fire and maintains residual pockets where the conditions are right. In the drier south Golden Eardrops grows on north facing slopes on well drained shale. In the north it grows in south facing pockets up to 5000 feet. Surprising to me because of the look of the flowers, Golden Eardrops are in the Poppy Family. Heat scarification is necessary to get the seeds to germinate. Golden Eardrops is common in fire areas in the middle elevations of the Coast Ranges and the Sierra's.
Golden yellow flowers of Dicentra chrysantha the Golden Eardrops. High resolution photos are part of our garden image collection.
Golden yellow flowers of Dicentra chrysantha the Golden Eardrops. High resolution photos are part of our garden image collection.
Golden yellow flowers of Dicentra chrysantha the Golden Eardrops. High resolution photos are part of our garden image collection.
Aspect shot including finely divided silver leaves and golden yellow flowers of Dicentra chrysantha the Golden Eardrops. High resolution photos are part of our garden image collection.