Longhorn Steer's-Head

Dicentra uniflora

Native to:
Canada, United States

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Papaveraceae
Genus:
Dicentra
Species:
Dicentra uniflora
USDA Symbol:
DIUN

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
10 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
mar,apr,may,jun
Bloom Colors:
white, pink

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Caterpillars:
★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Clodius Parnassian (Parnassius clodius)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees
Deer Resistant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
gravelly, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
native to mountainous regions, prefers rocky outcrops

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
Germination Time:
30–180 days
Notes:
Seeds require cold stratification and may germinate erratically over several months. Best sown in fall for natural stratification.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI

Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).

Source: Claude AI