Hey, we've all had similar experiences happen to us with plants but it is still disappointing. Now I have to look up the name of the plant so I'll know what it is!

newbie, I'm not sure your dicentra is dead. They do go into dormancy at this time of year and do turn a yellow color. Some of mine has done that and some are still green. I would keep watering it and hope for the best and maybe next year it will come back.

I agree with Prairiemoon. I would leave the roots in place until next spring in case it is just going dormant. They come up fairly early here, so I would think that by mid to late March you would know for sure.

Totally Confused

So there is hope! Yay! I'll keep my fingers crossed (well, not constantly--March is a long ways off)....

:-)

Yep. It's just dormant. It will be back next season.

Mark its whereabouts because it will disappear completely. There's a good chance it will return.

I agree, your Dicentra probably has just gone dormant; it'll be back next spring to cheer you. In the meantiome, it's the perfect opportunity to post my favorite gardening poem, written by Geoffrey B. Charlesworth

WHY DID MY PLANT DIE?

You walked too close.
You trod on it.
You dropped a piece of sod on it.

You hoed it down.
You weeded it.

You planted it the wrong way up.
You grew it in a yogurt cup.

But you forgot to make a hole.
The soggy compost took its toll.

September storm. November drought.
It heaved in March, the roots popped out.

You watered it with herbicide.
You scattered bone meal far and wide.

Attracted local omnivores,
who ate your plant and stayed for more.

You left it baking in the sun,
while you departed on the run, to find a spade.

Perhaps a trowel.
Meanwhile the plant threw in the towel.

You planted it with crown too high.
The soil washed off, that explains why.

Too high pH.
It hated lime.
Alas, it needs a gentler clime.

You left the root ball wrapped in plastic.
You broke the roots.
They're not elastic.

You splashed the plant with motor oil.
You should do something to your soil.

Too rich.
Too poor.
Such wretched tilth.
Your soil is clay.
Your soil is filth.

Your plant was eaten by a slug.
The growing point contained a bug.

These aphids are controlled by ants.
Who milk the juice, it kills the plants.

In early spring, your garden's mud.
You walked around! That's not much good.

With heat and light you hurried it.
You worried it.
You buried it.

The poor plant missed the mountain air.
No heat, no summer bugs up there.

You overfed it 10-10-10.
Forgot to water it again.

You hit it sharply with the hose.
You used a can without a sprinkler rose.

Perhaps you sprinkled from above.
You should have talked to it with love.

The nursery mailed it without roots.
You killed it with those gardening boots.

You walked too close.
You trod on it.
You dropped a piece of sod on it.