Bleeding Heart Plant

It is a long-time favorite for shady borders, mixed in a bed with tulips and astilbes, and adds color to a woodland setting of ferns.

The heart shaped flowers have protruding inner petals that look like a drop of blood.

Growth Habits

This herbaceous perennial produces a mound of leaves, with gracefully curving stems that boast a profusion of pink or white heart shaped flowers.

It prefers well drained, humus rich soil in a shady area, and is hardy in zones three through nine. Keep the soil moist to prevent the plant from going dormant, and protect it from winds.

Varieties can reach a height and width of two to three feet. Some bloom from spring into early fall.

This spring bloomer tolerates partial to full shade and looks equally beautiful in a hanging container or a garden bed.

Since the foliage dies back to the ground once the weather gets hot, cut it back. For this reason, it's a good idea to surround the plant with other shade lovers to cover up the bare spots.

To grow the dicentra plant in a bed, apply a layer of compost in the spring. Add a layer of mulch to keep the soil moist. As a potted plant, treat it as an annual, in a shady area.

When transplanting from a pot to the ground, handle the plant gently. The roots are brittle and break easily.

Most varieties will reseed in the right conditions. During dry seasons, water the plant often to keep the soil moist.

Propagating

Bleeding heart plants are easy to propagate. They can be divided in spring or fall, again being careful of the roots. This should be done every three years to avoid overcrowding.

You can also leave some flowers on the stem where they will develop small pods. These pods will dry and drop seeds when mature.

Don't disturb the seeds and many will germinate in the spring. The small plants can then be transplanted easily. Be sure to make of note of this so you don't pull them out as weeds on that first clean up day in spring.

Whether growing between a mix of shade lovers, as a specimen plant among the ferns, or in a hanging container, every garden should have some bleeding heart plants. Their delicate arching stems and multitude of flowers add grace and beauty to the shade garden.