Lamprocapnos spectabilis (L.) Fukuhara

Herbs, perennial, glabrous, with ± erect, branched, leafy, rather thick, juicy stems 50-90 cm. Petiole 5-12 cm; leaf blade glaucous abaxially, green adaxially, broadly triangular in outline, 10-30 × 10-30 cm, 2 to almost 3 × ternately divided; leaflets cuneate, ± deeply divided into broad acute lobes or coarse teeth. Inflorescences terminal and axillary from upper leaves, racemelike, almost horizontal, long, lax, 7-15-flowered, subtended by linear bracts 3-5(-10) mm. Pedicel 5-15 mm, thin, with tiny paired bracteoles. Flowers with 2 planes of symmetry, ± cordate, 20-25 mm wide. Sepals early falling, 3-4 mm, entire. Outer petals pink or occasionally white, base broadly pouchlike; inner petals white, usually with red and yellow markings, 22-25 mm, projecting far beyond strongly reflexed outer petals and each with a prominent whitish crest. Stamens rather wide and undulate, petaloid, free from each other, each triplet only shortly fused below anthers; nectar secreted from base of each central stamen. Ovary green, fusiform; style persistent; stigma oblong, slightly 2-lobed at base and apically. Capsule oblong, 2-8-seeded, 25-35 mm, including a long straight persistent style. Seeds black, rounded, (2.5-)3 mm, smooth, with a large lobed elaiosome. Fl. and fr. Apr-Jun. 2n = 16.

It is a temperate plant. It grows best in full sun. It is frost hardy. Because it is brittle it needs a sheltered position. It is often grown in shady places amongst rocks. It suits hardiness zones 6-9.

It can be grown by dividing the roots in spring. They can also be grown from seed.