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Athens Yellow Bleeding Heart

Dactylicapnos scandens (dy-SEN-trah skan-denz)

Family: Papaveraceae Unknown Vine (vertical)

Dactylicapnos scandens 'Athens Yellow' is a cultivar of a rare, vigorous, climbing, perennial vine that has loads of delicate, cascading, yellow flowers from mid-summer to frost. The leaves are delicate and fern-like in appearance. The species is a member of the poppy family (Papaveraceae). This plant was introduced and named by Allan Armitage, a professor, researcher, and horticulturist from the University of Georgia in 1999 or 2000. 'Athens Yellow' prefers rich, evenly moist, well-drained soils with the roots shaded, but where it can grow in the sun. Benefits from partial sun to light shade. It will die down to the ground in the winter, and in colder climates, it can be grown as an annual. This plant is winter hardy in zones 7b to 10b. It is deer and rabbit-resistant and attracts hummingbirds. 'Athens Yellow' grows up to 8 to 12 feet tall and 3 to 12 feet wide. The flowers have heart-shaped outer petals, a pouched base, and appear as hanging clusters. Thousands of blooms are produced from April to November. The leaves are grayish-green, pinnately compound, and have tendrils to climb a trellis or fence. Consider planting in a woodland garden, on a trellis or fence, or in a container on the patio. Although a vigorous grower, it is not invasive or weedy. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Potential insect pests include aphids, slugs, snails, and scale insects. If ingested, this species can cause gastrointestinal upset. The foliage can irritate the skin; gloves and protective clothing are recommended.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 59 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 6 - Vine (vertical) Optimal soil pH Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Dicentra eximia

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Poisonous; Vine
Life cycle
Annual; Perennial
USDA zones
7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Light
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet; 6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Cascading; Climbing; Horizontal
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf shape
Ovate; Spatulate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Grayish-green, deeply lobed, finely dissected fern-like leaves, measuring 6 to 12 inches long with tendrils.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Unusual showy hanging clusters of 1-inch, canary-yellow, heart-shaped to tubular flowers. Blooms from April through November or until frost.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Bean-like seed pods
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Attracts hummingbirds
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Attracts Pollinators; Colorful; Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Patio; Vertical Spaces; Woodland
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Specimen
Garden tags
#deciduous #delicate #poisonous #yellow flowers #hummingbird friendly #fern-like #cascading #tendrils #glossy #container plant #cutting garden #vine #annual #patio #woodland #rabbit resistant #deer resistant #trellis #climbing plant #long bloom season #fast growing #problem for children #poisonous if ingested
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Contact Dermatitis; Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Children
Resistant to
Deer; Rabbits
Particularly resistant to
Deer and rabbit resistant
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Flowers; Fruits; Leaves; Roots; Sap/Juice; Seeds; Stems
Poison symptoms
If ingested, it may cause vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain. Skin irritation can occur when handling this plant, especially the foliage.
Toxic principle
isoquinoline alkaloids
Contact dermatitis
Yes
Toxicity summary
Low severity poison; parts: Flowers; Fruits; Leaves; Roots; Sap/Juice; Seeds; Stems; contact dermatitis

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.