Bleeding-Heart
Dicentra species. FUMARIACEAE.
Planting and Growing Bleeding-Heart
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow bleeding-heart in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of bleeding-heart
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for bleeding-heart
- Season of bloom and planting time for bleeding-heart
- When, how deep, and where to plant bleeding-heart
- How to plant bleeding-heart
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of bleeding-heart
- Landscape and container uses of bleeding-heart
- Comments about bleeding-heart and its features
Growing Bleeding-Heart
About 19 species of erect, arching, rhizomatous or tuberous, deciduous perennial herbs, 12–30 in. (30–75 cm) tall, 3 ft. (90 cm) wide. Feathery, gray green, dense, heart-shaped, deeply cut and toothed foliage, to 6 in. (15 cm) long.
Commonly cultivated species include common bleeding heart, Dicentra spectabilis; Dutchman’s-breeches, Dicentra cucullaria; and western bleeding heart, Dicentra formosa.
See also: Dutchman’s-Breeches, Dicentra cucullaria.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Showy, pink, purple, red, white, heart-shaped flowers, to 1-1/2-in. (38-mm) long, in nodding, horizontal, linear sprays, in spring–early summer.
Best Climates
Hardy. Zones 3–9. Best in cold-winter climates.
Soil Type and Fertility
Damp, well-drained humus. Fertility: Rich. 7.0–8.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Early spring in filtered sun to open shade, 3 ft. (90 cm) apart, when the soil is workable and after frost hazard has passed.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep moist during growth until established; allow soil surface to dry between waterings. Fertilize annually in spring. Mulch, zones 8–9. Protect from wind. Propagate by division, seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for accents, backgrounds, borders, edgings in cottage, heritage, shade, woodland gardens. Stem rot, vascular wilt susceptible.