Bleeding Heart is Fleeting Pleasure of Spring

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The lady in the bath flower is just one of the common names for bleeding hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis, formerly Dicentra spectabilis). The name comes from looking at the flower upside down. 

Other common names include heart flower, lyre flower or Asian bleeding heart. 

There is a bleeding heart (Dicentra eximia) native to the eastern United States that’s commonly referred to as the fringed bleeding heart. It has grayish-green colored foliage and pink to purple-red flowers and, at about 18 inches in height, is somewhat smaller than Lamprocapnos spectabilis.

While Dicentra spectabilis appears related to our native bleeding heart, genetic testing revealed it is not. This led to it being reclassified as Lamprocapnos spectabilis, many cultivars of which are available to home gardeners.

Bleeding hearts are one of the fleeting pleasures of spring in the garden. Each year, this perennial emerges from the ground, its stems reaching upward and outward. Heart-shaped flowers in combinations of red, white or pink dangle beneath the arching stems.

Native to Asia, Lamprocapnos spectabilis was introduced to European gardens in the mid-1800s and has been a shade garden favorite since that time. It is a charming, old-fashioned flower equally at home in a cottage garden with dappled sunlight or in a woodland shade garden. Bleeding hearts are hardy in United States Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 3 to 9. The flowers attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds and offer a mild, sweet fragrance. 

Mature plants can be dug up when dormant and the root clumps divided using a clean shovel or blade. 

Plant in early spring as soon as soil can be worked, or plant during the fall when temperatures are mild to give the roots a chance to establish before the ground freezes. Mark the planting location to avoid accidentally digging up the roots during its dormant period.

For best results, plant in partial shade or filtered sunlight in rich soil that drains well. Amend soil with compost if needed. Heavy soil that retains water may cause root rot. Add a layer of mulch to help keep moisture levels consistent. Mulch will also help keep soil cooler during the heat of summer and protect the roots from freezing and thawing in winter.

Feed, if needed, in early spring according to package directions to encourage flower and root development.

After it’s finished flowering, the foliage will yellow and die back. The plant will go dormant until the following spring.  

Bleeding hearts spread by underground stems called rhizomes or through self-seeding. They’re not considered aggressive in the garden. They are a low-maintenance plant, but root rot may occur due to standing water or excessive moisture in heavy soil. They’re also a good option if deer or rabbits tend to browse in your garden as both tend to avoid nibbling on them.

Although bleeding hearts appear delicate and harmless, all parts of the plant are toxic to pets and humans if eaten. Touching them may cause skin irritation, so wear gloves as a precaution.