Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis, previously Dicentra spectabilis)
Written by: Wanda Simone | Last Updated: August 20, 2024
Favored in gardens for its unique, heart-shaped flowers and lush foliage, Bleeding Heart adds a touch of romance and visual interest to shady spots.
Plant snapshot
Scientific name: Lamprocapnos spectabilis, previously Dicentra spectabilis
Plant type: perennial
Zone: 2 to 9
Exposure: part shade, shade
Height: 12″ to 36″
Width: 12″ to 36″
Bloom time: spring
Flower color: pink, red, white
Bleeding Heart is a beautiful lacy-leaved plant with pretty drooping pink, red or white flowers that blooms in the spring.
It’s deer resistant, very easy to grow and does very well in the shade.
The original varieties totally disappear when it starts getting hot so don’t be alarmed when that happens…it will come back again next spring.
You may want to put a stake or plant marker in the ground where it grows so you don’t accidentally dig it up after it has gone dormant.
However, there are some newer hybrid varieties that do not go dormant so look for those if you want all-summer color.
Plant seeds or rhizomes in the fall. They need to go through a chilling period over winter before growing in the spring.
Bleeding Heart characteristics
Bleeding Heart blooms
Flower color: pink, red, white
Bloom time: spring
Other information: good for cut flowers
Lamprocapnos spectabilis Foliage
Leaf color: green
Leaf shape: lacy
Bleeding Heart planting & care
Water: likes consistently moist but not wet soil
Soil: alkaline soil
Planting: plant in fall, easily grown from seeds
Pruning: Cut off the spent blooms after flowering to give the plant a neater appearance and prevent prolific self-seeding. Then, wait until the foliage has turned yellow and died back before cutting it off at ground level. Do not do this too early since the leaves feed the rhizome that keeps the plant coming back every year.
Lamprocapnos spectabilis benefits & issues
Resistant to: deer, rabbits
Landscaping uses: front of border, mid border, shade garden, cottage garden
Growth habit: easy to grow, self-seeding
Potential issues: poisonous, prolific self-seeder
More information
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