Dicentra: Bleeding Heart
Bleeding hearts are a long standing, popular staple in the shade garden.
Plant care & info
Family: Papaveracae
Genus: Dicentra
Common Name: Bleeding Heart, Dutchman’s Breeches, Lady in the Bath
This genus contains around 20 species native to North America, Japan and China.
Dicentras are deciduous perennials that thrive with rich, well-drained soil, full to partial shade, and regular water during summer months.
Dicentra are low-maintenance plants. Cool soil will help the foliage last longer. Once the leaves turn yellow, cut stems to the ground in summer (for Dicentra spectabalis) or fall (for other species). Some varieties spread by runners or reseed.
Attracts hummingbirds, deer resistant, good cut flower.
Powdery mildew, aphids, slugs and snails.
Old-fashioned bleeding heart, Dicentra spectabilis, has been cultivated in gardens since the 1840’s and still reigns as the most widely grown of all Dicentra. It’s difficult to deny the beauty of dramatic, long wands of pendant, heart-shaped pink and white blooms.
This rich display of floral jewels is followed by the droplet blooms of our native Dicentra formosa and the east coast native Dicentra eximia. These two species readily cross pollinate, and have given rise to many garden hybrids. The delicate feathery foliage of the American native species is close to the ground, and adds great contrast to the bold leaves of hostas, wild ginger or grasses. Dicentra spectabilis combines well with just about anything. Because Dicentra spectabilis goes dormant in summer, it often combines well with late blooming or evergreen perennials such as Ligularia, Astilbe or Farfugium.
The less common Dicentra scandens is a vining species with clusters of bright yellow flowers on display from late summer through fall. It is a wonderful plant to thread through flowering currants, Japanese Maples or train on a trellis.
A newer series of hybrid Dicentra called the Amore series offer stunning, fern-like foliage on vigorous plants. Prolific clusters of large rose or pink flowers bloom from May to August! They prefer to be evenly moist, but not wet during the growing season. These plants have attractive foliage and extended bloom time, making them ideal for entry ways and prominent woodland paths or containers.
No matter which species of Dicentra you choose to grow, most are easy and low maintenance. They can add a sense of elegance or woodland wonder to virtually any shade garden. Even the fairies will approve.
Explore More Bleeding Heart
Amore Rose
Dicentra ‘Amore Rose’
Deep rosy pink flowers May to August. Grows 9-14″ tall 14″ wide in full to part shade. Hardy in zones 5-9.
Western Bleeding Heart
Dicentra formosa: Western Bleeding Heart
Native to the Pacific Northwest. Light pink flowers bloom May through July. This species reseeds and spreads by runners which lends it to naturalizing in the garden. It grows 12-18″ tall and 24″ wide in full to part shade. Tolerates dry shade. Hardy in zones 3-9.
Aurora
Dicentra formosa ‘Aurora’
White 1″ flowers May-September. Growing 12-18″ tall. Plant in full to part shade. Zones 3-9. Can naturalize in the garden.
Dicentra Spectabilis
Dicentra spectabilis
This old-fashioned bleeding heart produces dark pink flowers with white centers bloom April through May. Grows 24-36″ tall and wide in full to part shade. Foliage dies back when soils get warm in the summer. Zones 3-9. Great cut flower.
Dicentra spectabilis ‘Alba’
Pure white heart-shaped flowers.
Dicentra spectabilis ‘Gold Heart’
Bright gold foliage adds contrast to the bright pink and white flowers.
Dicentra spectabilis ‘Valentine’
A newer cultivar with red heart shaped flowers topping dusky green foliage.
Dicentra Scandens
Dicentra scandens
Clusters of slender, rich yellow flowers summer to fall. This climbing species clings with tiny tendrils. Fern-like leaves have delicate white markings. It grows 6-12′ tall and requires good drainage. Zones 7-9.
