Bleeding heart

Sun

Partial shade or dappled shade. Morning sun is suitable in cool climates; protect from strong afternoon sun and drying winds.

Water

Keep evenly moist while growing, without waterlogging. Water during dry spells; summer heat or drought can trigger early dormancy.

Soil

Humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Tolerates mildly acidic to mildly alkaline conditions.

Height

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Flowers

Mid- to late spring, sometimes continuing into early summer in cool conditions. The species has pink outer petals and white inner petals; white-flowered forms are also grown.

Foliage

Soft green, deeply divided leaves on fleshy stems. Leaves turn yellow and may disappear in summer, especially in hot or dry weather.

Growth

Moderate; forms a substantial clump over several seasons.

Care needed

Low

• Water deeply during dry spring weather, keeping the root zone moist but not saturated.
• Spread a thin layer of compost around the clump in early spring; rich soil rarely needs additional fertiliser.
• Apply 2 in (5 cm) of organic mulch to conserve moisture, keeping it clear of emerging shoots.
• Mark the planting spot before summer dormancy so you do not dig into the resting crown.
• Leave established clumps undisturbed unless overcrowded; divide carefully in early spring if needed.

Pruning. Remove faded flower stems if you do not want seedlings. Cut the remaining stems to ground level only after the foliage has yellowed and died back; cutting green leaves removes the plant's food supply.

Early spring

Plant or carefully divide clumps as growth begins; top-dress established plants with compost.

Spring

Mulch moist soil and protect emerging shoots from slugs and late frost.

Late spring

Water during dry spells and remove spent flower stems if seedlings are unwanted.

Summer

Allow yellowing foliage to die back naturally, then cut it away and mark the crown's position.

Autumn

Plant dormant nursery-grown crowns while soil is workable and check that the site drains freely.

Winter

Avoid disturbing dormant crowns or leaving them beneath standing water.

• Plant in the middle of a shaded border, where arching flower stems rise above low spring groundcover.
• Combine with hostas and ferns, whose expanding foliage fills the gap left by summer dormancy.
• Use in small groups beneath deciduous trees where spring light reaches the plants before the canopy closes.
• Place beside a sheltered path so the hanging flowers can be viewed closely.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Cottage garden, Romantic rose garden, English country, Secret garden and Blues and silvers.

Plant it with: Hostas, Japanese painted fern, Siberian bugloss, Lungwort, Hellebores and Astilbes.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar for long-tongued bees, including bumblebees. Deer and rabbits usually leave it alone, although browsing is still possible.

• Slugs and snails eat emerging shoots: check plants after dark, remove pests and use wildlife-conscious barriers or labelled iron-phosphate bait where needed.
• Crown or root rot in waterlogged soil: improve drainage or move the plant to a better-drained position; discard badly rotted crowns.
• Late frost blackens tender shoots: cover emerging growth with horticultural fleece when frost is forecast, then trim damaged tissue once the risk has passed.
• Early yellowing in heat or drought: water and mulch while leaves remain green, but recognise that summer dormancy is normal and do not try to reverse it with heavy feeding.

All parts are toxic if eaten by people, cats, dogs or horses, including the roots. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain; larger amounts may cause trembling, seizures or other serious nervous-system effects. Sap may irritate skin. Keep it away from grazing animals and seek medical or veterinary advice after ingestion.

• Pacific bleeding heart (Dicentra formosa)

  Usually shorter, with finer, fernlike leaves and smaller flowers in clusters rather than long, clearly spaced rows. It spreads by rhizomes and often flowers for longer.

• Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)

  A much smaller spring plant with finely cut foliage and white flowers shaped like upside-down trousers, rather than rounded pink hearts.

The common name refers to the heart-shaped outer petals and the protruding inner petals that resemble a drop beneath each heart.

Propagation. Divide established clumps carefully in early spring, keeping roots and growing buds on each section. Fresh seed can be sown outdoors and may need a warm period followed by winter cold before germinating; seedlings may differ from named parent plants.

Accepted botanical name

Lamprocapnos spectabilis

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Korea and Manchuria.

Measured

Average height 75 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.