Lamprocapnos Species, Old-fashioned Bleeding Heart, Lady-in-a-Bath, Lady's Locket
Lamprocapnos spectabilis
Family: | Papaveraceae (pa-pav-er-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Lamprocapnos (lam-pro-KAP-nos) (Info) |
Species: | spectabilis (speck-TAB-ih-liss) (Info) |
Synonym: | Dicentra spectabilis |
Synonym: | Cyanaeorchis spectabilis |
Synonym: | Corydalis spectabilis |
Synonym: | Diclytra spectabilis |
Synonym: | Dielytra spectabilis |

Category:
Perennials
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Sun to Partial Shade
Light Shade
Partial to Full Shade
Full Shade
Foliage:
Grown for foliage
Herbaceous
Foliage Color:
Blue-Green
Height:
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
Spacing:
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F)
USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F)
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Where to Grow:
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Danger:
All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction
Bloom Color:
Pink
White/Near White
Bloom Characteristics:
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Late Spring/Early Summer
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
By dividing the rootball
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
From herbaceous stem cuttings
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
Seed Collecting:
Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Birmingham, Alabama
Jasper, Alabama
Montevallo, Alabama
Anchorage, Alaska
Seward, Alaska
Phoenix, Arizona
Bay, Arkansas
Hot Springs Village, Arkansas
Malvern, Arkansas
Castro Valley, California
Citrus Heights, California
Elk Grove, California
Fremont, California
Hayward, California
Lake Forest, California
Lompoc, California
Merced, California
Oak View, California
San Leandro, California
Santa Cruz, California
Clifton, Colorado
Colorado City, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado(2 reports)
Denver, Colorado
Erie, Colorado
Fort Collins, Colorado
Littleton, Colorado
Pueblo, Colorado
Severance, Colorado
Centerbrook, Connecticut
Danielson, Connecticut
Glastonbury, Connecticut
Madison, Connecticut
Meriden, Connecticut
Milford, Connecticut
Old Lyme, Connecticut
Oxford, Connecticut
Winsted, Connecticut
Wilmington, Delaware
Fort Lauderdale, Florida(2 reports)
Fountain, Florida
Lutz, Florida
Melrose, Florida
Ocala, Florida
Atlanta, Georgia
Nicholson, Georgia
Stone Mountain, Georgia
Boise, Idaho
Soda Springs, Idaho
Victor, Idaho
Belleville, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois(3 reports)
Collinsville, Illinois
Des Plaines, Illinois
Hampton, Illinois
Hinsdale, Illinois
Machesney Park, Illinois
Oak Lawn, Illinois
Palatine, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Washington, Illinois
Wauconda, Illinois
Waukegan, Illinois
Austin, Indiana
Bloomington, Indiana
Farmersburg, Indiana
Greenfield, Indiana
Hammond, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Logansport, Indiana
Macy, Indiana
Middlebury, Indiana
Nashville, Indiana
Noblesville, Indiana
Clarion, Iowa
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Inwood, Iowa
Iowa Falls, Iowa
Nichols, Iowa
Urbandale, Iowa
Olathe, Kansas
Shawnee Mission, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Corbin, Kentucky
Ewing, Kentucky
Georgetown, Kentucky
Hebron, Kentucky
Henderson, Kentucky
Lancaster, Kentucky
Abbeville, Louisiana
Broussard, Louisiana
Deridder, Louisiana
Hammond, Louisiana
Prairieville, Louisiana
Biddeford, Maine
Durham, Maine
Litchfield, Maine
South China, Maine
Adamstown, Maryland
Cumberland, Maryland
Lanham, Maryland
Lusby, Maryland
Pikesville, Maryland
Rockville, Maryland
Silver Spring, Maryland
Valley Lee, Maryland
Amherst, Massachusetts
Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Clinton, Massachusetts
Dracut, Massachusetts
Halifax, Massachusetts
Needham, Massachusetts(2 reports)
New Bedford, Massachusetts
North Billerica, Massachusetts
Reading, Massachusetts
Roslindale, Massachusetts
Saugus, Massachusetts
Sterling, Massachusetts
Winchester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Wrentham, Massachusetts
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Dearborn Heights, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Eastpointe, Michigan
Galesburg, Michigan
Grand Blanc, Michigan
Mason, Michigan
Novi, Michigan
Owosso, Michigan
Pinconning, Michigan
Plymouth, Michigan
Royal Oak, Michigan
Saint Clair Shores, Michigan
Braham, Minnesota
Buffalo, Minnesota(2 reports)
Circle Pines, Minnesota
Hamel, Minnesota
Isle, Minnesota
Lake Elmo, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota(4 reports)
New Prague, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Greenville, Mississippi
Olive Branch, Mississippi
Brunswick, Missouri
Piedmont, Missouri
Bozeman, Montana
Cut Bank, Montana
Helena, Montana
Omaha, Nebraska
Reno, Nevada
Sparks, Nevada
Auburn, New Hampshire
Berlin, New Hampshire
Brookline, New Hampshire
Franklin, New Hampshire
Hooksett, New Hampshire
Merrimack, New Hampshire
Munsonville, New Hampshire
Plaistow, New Hampshire
Asbury, New Jersey
Brick, New Jersey
Denville, New Jersey
Far Hills, New Jersey
Forked River, New Jersey
Freehold, New Jersey
Jersey City, New Jersey
Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey
Millville, New Jersey
Morristown, New Jersey
Neptune, New Jersey
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Alden, New York
Binghamton, New York
Brooklyn, New York
Cooperstown, New York
Crown Point, New York
Elba, New York
Himrod, New York
Kingston, New York
Mechanicville, New York
New York City, New York
Niagara Falls, New York
Penn Yan, New York
Saratoga Springs, New York
Schenectady, New York
Southold, New York
Windsor, New York
Asheville, North Carolina
Brevard, North Carolina
Burgaw, North Carolina
Clayton, North Carolina
Clemmons, North Carolina
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Hillsborough, North Carolina
Lucama, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina(2 reports)
Belfield, North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Medora, North Dakota
Bucyrus, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dublin, Ohio
Glouster, Ohio
Hamilton, Ohio
Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Swanton, Ohio
Westerville, Ohio
Enid, Oklahoma
Greater Sudbury, Ontario
Blodgett, Oregon
Gresham, Oregon
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Lake Oswego, Oregon
Portland, Oregon(8 reports)
Salem, Oregon
Silverton, Oregon
Springfield, Oregon
Tillamook, Oregon
Vernonia, Oregon
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania
Coal Center, Pennsylvania
Dover, Pennsylvania
Emmaus, Pennsylvania
Friedens, Pennsylvania
Greencastle, Pennsylvania
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Lansdowne, Pennsylvania
New Kensington, Pennsylvania
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania
Sayre, Pennsylvania
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Vandergrift, Pennsylvania
Hope Valley, Rhode Island
Summerville, South Carolina
Belle Fourche, South Dakota
Camp Crook, South Dakota
Clinton, Tennessee
Crossville, Tennessee
Hendersonville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Lafayette, Tennessee
Lenoir City, Tennessee
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Austin, Texas
Cypress, Texas
Desoto, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Gilmer, Texas
Lipan, Texas
Mc Kinney, Texas
Nome, Texas
Pipe Creek, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
Santo, Texas
Magna, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah(2 reports)
Tremonton, Utah
Big Stone Gap, Virginia
Chantilly, Virginia
Coeburn, Virginia
Falls Church, Virginia
Fancy Gap, Virginia
Lexington, Virginia
Mechanicsville, Virginia
Springfield, Virginia
Woodbridge, Virginia
Anacortes, Washington
Bremerton, Washington
Chewelah, Washington
College Place, Washington
Langley, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Orchards, Washington
Puyallup, Washington
Sammamish, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Stanwood, Washington
Vancouver, Washington
Great Cacapon, West Virginia
Shepherdstown, West Virginia
Appleton, Wisconsin
Balsam Lake, Wisconsin
Ellsworth, Wisconsin
Kendall, Wisconsin
Marinette, Wisconsin
Mauston, Wisconsin
Merrimac, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Mosinee, Wisconsin
Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Spooner, Wisconsin
Superior, Wisconsin
Verona, Wisconsin
Watertown, Wisconsin
Cody, Wyoming
Ranchester, Wyoming
Sheridan, Wyoming
Thayne, Wyoming
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Positive | On Sep 10, 2017, ibrakeforgardens from Kitchener, I'm from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada - Zone 5. |
Positive | On Feb 15, 2016, Ancolie88 from Innsbruck, Lamprocapnos spectabilis is for shure a favorite plant in my spring garden. It blooms for three month here in Austria |
Positive | On May 11, 2015, ZombiShakespear from Clayton, NC wrote: This is one of my favorite plants for a shady spot. Even after the flowers are finished, I think the plant's form and foliage are still beautiful. I have mine planted in good, rich soil near the back of the flower bed in between 2 small azaleas. I've had no trouble with pests or diseases. I'm right on the border of Zones 7b and 8a, if that helps. |
Positive | On Mar 16, 2015, wakingdream from Allentown, PA wrote: I received a specimen of Dicentra in a plant swap from a young mother whose colony of bleeding hearts was rampantly spreading. It had not been divided or reined in for many years. The piece I transplanted was very successful immediately, no waiting for blossoms. It is located at the base of a deciduous tree and a nearby large shrub, in 3/4 shade. It also benefits from being at the base of a slight incline, bringing adequate moisture to the area. I like Dicentra's spring show of delicate blossoms. I have not been lucky enough yet to catch the seeds before they are dropped. It does disappear in the heat of summer but is totally forgiven for this behavior in light of its earlier beauty. |
Positive | On Nov 28, 2014, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote: A fantastic perennial for deciduous shade in the north. Generally goes dormant when the weather gets hot, though in moist shade in the north the foliage may stay in good condition as late as September. You can cut this down to the ground any time after flowering is finished and fill the gap with annuals, if you're careful to avoid damaging the brittle roots. |
Positive | On May 12, 2013, Mike_W from Sterling, MA wrote: I absolutely love this plant! The only problem I have is planting them from bulb form. The fleshy roots tend to be very brittle and I find the more they break, the less likely the bulbs are to sprout. I started with 8 and only one sprouted. Fast forward about 5 years and my one pink bleeding heart plant is massive! It looks stunning in my shade garden among the ferns. I decided to buy my mother a red flowering variety for Mothers Day and I hope it does as well as the pink one has. |
Positive | On Apr 19, 2012, MarcoPlo from Sudbury , ON (Zone 4b) wrote: Very successful plants here! I have a white, a pink & a red! All do well, they are in mostly shade with some light morning sun. The pink has been transplanted nearly half a dozen times! They rebloom often when we have a cool damp season. The Red is my fave. |
Positive | On Feb 20, 2012, Gascoigne from Shawnee Mission, KS (Zone 5a) wrote: does amazingly well on the northeast side of my house in Kansas. My dicentra is about 2 ft. in diameter and blooms 2x a year, spring then fall. consistent moisture is key, along with shade from the little redbud tree adjacent to it. |
Positive | On May 24, 2010, madgrace from Hershey, PA (Zone 6a) wrote: We have one in almost complete shade on a slope surrounded by pachysandra and do nothing for it. It has flourished with our benign neglect! We have another one in a flower bed that gets more sun that has been setting out seedlings and spreading. They put on a lovely spring show of flowers. Ours are not vines. They're almost like tender shrubs with no woody growth, but impressive spread-- to almost 3-4' wide. |
Positive | On Apr 15, 2010, Qortni from Binghamton, NY (Zone 5b) wrote: My favorite shade plant, Bleeding Hearts are an elegant "must-have" for the northern gardener. |
Positive | On Feb 26, 2010, pgcarroll from Belleair, FL (Zone 9b) wrote: It took us a while to find just the right spot for our bleeding heart - a cutting from friends in Boca Raton. Once we planted two specimens on either side of an arch in our sunny back yard, they took off. The only thing that stops the blooming (which occurs in cycles throughout the year) is our rare freeze - just like this year (2010). I've cut them back to the ground and fully expect that they will rebound. This is a lovely vine (although with no tendrils, it does need a little "encouragement" to twine around our arch) and blooms repeatedly for us. We had such a nice thick set of vines last year that cardinals built a nest and raised two young at the apex of the arch. |
Positive | On Oct 19, 2009, bonehead from Cedarhome, WA (Zone 8b) wrote: All agree this is a spectacular plant, but some have problems growing it. I have had good luck in the Pacific Northwest, and allow our native bleeding hearts (much smaller, the formosa variety) grow along with the big ones for a nice combo. Some years it lasts through the summer without going dormant, although usually it disappears by August. My grand daughter insists on calling them 'bloody hearts' |
Neutral | On Jun 16, 2009, nford from Hot Springs Village, AR (Zone 7b) wrote: I ordered 2 from SpringHillNursery.com and planted them next to each other in a shady area (zone 7b). One came up nicely and the other, not at all. The one that came up had flowers right away. SpringHill is supposed to be sending a replacement for the dead one. |
Positive | On Apr 29, 2009, KaylyRed from Watertown, WI (Zone 5a) wrote: My trick to keeping dicentra spectabilis looking decent year-round (at least in northern climates) is to cut it back hard after it blooms. Cut the plant back by about 2/3rds to the fresh basal growth. If this is done early enough, you'll most likely be able to avoid the summer dormancy that makes d. spectabilis look ratty from July on. |
Positive | On Apr 27, 2009, leelynne from Dover, PA (Zone 6a) wrote: I love bleeding hearts. They add color to my shady spots. I have 3 of these...2 pink and 1 white. The one pink I've had for 3 years and transplanted 3 times, every year it's come back bigger and better. The other pink and white I just got and have high hopes that they will do as well as my first one. |
Negative | On Oct 13, 2008, eliasastro from Athens, A beautiful plant, but doesn' t really flourish in the mild winters of Athens (i think it needs cold frosty winters like Peonies). |
Positive | On Jul 31, 2008, ravenskies from London, Ontario, I bought a 2 gallon pot this spring, and the plant grew so well in my partially shady, zone 5 location that I have had to cut it back twice so far, and it has only been planted for 3 months. It is still sending out flowers on a regular basis, and it is August now. |
Negative | On May 4, 2008, Lily_love from Central, AL (Zone 7b) wrote: I too have tried this beautiful plants in my garden multiple times. I finally resolved, the summer heat is too much for these beauties. |
Positive | On May 2, 2008, Malus2006 from Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4a) wrote: I would say this plant is difficult for a beginner - many may die because of bad locations or not watering it regularly but a few will success - the main thing is to keep watering - the first few plants may take years to flowers - the more you add, the more they will self seed and becomes more of a weed than a perennial and blooms quickly from seedlings as they resent transplanting so will sulk for a few years (3 to 4 years for me) but flowers in 2 to 3 years from seedlings if left alone. Their seedlings which I sometimes pull because of their weedy habits and difficult to move comes up with two seedleaves and then they have trifoliate for their first true leaves. The taproot is generally single and orangish brown. After that they will grow rapidly and by the second year they may be mov... read more |
Positive | On May 2, 2008, minnasnowtan from Braham, MN (Zone 3b) wrote: I planted two of these wonderful plants in my front shade garden - one in 2006 and one in 2007. They are both thriving and have bloomed well into the summer. They have required, nor recieved, any special care. |
Positive | On Apr 26, 2008, djmanny from New Bedford, MA wrote: Well to start out with,I have three of these plants 1- Pink & 2- white ones. I've had them for 6 yrs and all are doing well.The 2 in the backyard are about 12" tall & about 16 in" wide.There in light sun in the morning & shade in the evening and do well. The Pink one is in the front of my house & is my pride of the three.It's Grows 24" to 36" high, and 18" to 24" spread And I do very little care to this flower and I think it is a easy flower to grow. So far it comes back every year and looks and feels stronger I let it die till the end and what is left I pull out of the ground. I grab the dead branches I pull them.It should come out very easy. ( note ) By the way they where the frist plantes I got for a house warming gift |
Neutral | On Apr 22, 2008, outdoorlover from Enid, OK (Zone 7a) wrote: This is the 3rd year for this plant and each prior year, I thought it died. However, each spring it comes back bigger and stronger. No flowers yet that I recall. It is planted in full shade, with pH of 7.3 to 7.6. I'm still hopeful. |
Positive | On Apr 14, 2008, SarahSanuth from Hooksett, NH wrote: Plated in shady area, though that they weren't doing well because of the conditions and just replanted in my backyard. Didn't think that they would even regrow. To my amazement, they are currently growing at great speed. |
Positive | On Mar 17, 2008, rosewood513 from Lanoka Harbor, NJ (Zone 7a) wrote: I first saw this plant at a friends house and fell in love with it, that was in zone 7A. |
Positive | On Feb 8, 2008, krissy_p from Pipe Creek, TX wrote: I bought a huge bare root bleeding heart from easytogrowbulbs.com and I planted it about a month ago. Now it is blooming already! It is the first thing to bloom in my whole garden (early Feb.), and it is so beautiful! |
Positive | On Dec 31, 2007, jamaicawi from Belleville, IL wrote: I bought 2 of bleeding heart vines last spring. Kept them in pots in a partial-shaded area and both did very well with growth but they did not bloom. I wasn't certain if I should be expecting blooms for this season since the plants were young when I'd bought them. Right now they're in the basement and new growth are sprouting. |
Neutral | On Oct 1, 2007, mbhoakct76 from Winsted, CT wrote: Its a lovely flower but the foliage goes dormant in summer, here in northern CT by mid june- its completely died down to the ground. |
Neutral | On Sep 26, 2007, Maece from Colorado Springs, CO (Zone 5b) wrote: I just bought this plant, a dormant root, and placed it in my new shade garden underneath a large elm. That was in August - I know that it is supposed to go dormant after spring, which is why I am surprised that it is growing NOW. No buds or flowers, just stem/leaves (about 6 inches tall right now). I hope that the winter frost is not going to do any permanent damage since it is growing out of season. |
Negative | On Aug 28, 2007, alicealger from Augusta, GA (Zone 8a) wrote: In Augusta, Georgia, I have tried with three plants. One is barely surviving, no blooms. I think it doesn't take heat well -- certainly not the 100+ degrees of a Georgia summer. |
Positive | On Jul 10, 2007, Opoetree from Oak View, CA wrote: It is early July in southern California and my lovely plant has been sleeping since May. I surely do hope that it is a sleeping beauty and will awaken to the kiss of springtime again next year. This is my first attempt at trying to nurture this plant. On of the most unusual plants I've ever seen...one of those things more special than fiction. |
Positive | On Jun 26, 2007, Glama from Georgetown, KY (Zone 6a) wrote: When I was a little girl the house up the street from us had a bleeding heart plant and I thought it was the most beautiful thing in the world, I used to sneak up the street to look at it through their old iron fence, it was so delicate and the colors was wonderful. Now I have my own and I love it. I have it in the morning sun and afternoon shade and it has thrived very well from a little stick two years ago. The pink one lived but the white one died. I'm going to plant two more in my shade garden and see they do. The pink seems to do much better then the white, tougher stuff I guess. I do love mine, easy to grow and much reward. |
Neutral | On Jun 19, 2007, lightningbug from Buffalo, MN wrote: Lightning bug in Rockford, MN |
Positive | On Jun 18, 2007, dicentra63 from West Valley City, UT (Zone 6b) wrote: My dicentras are as happy as clams at high tide, despite the non-acidic, nitrogen-poor soil and their continued exposure to the herbicide-laden leaves from Ailanthus altissima. They are in a shady spot and in this Zone 6 they do die back in July from the heat. But in late spring, they're incredible. I've had them for 7 years now, and they get better every year. |
Positive | On May 17, 2007, sjhelene from New Kensington, PA wrote: I have a sunless wet corner where the house and the addition meet. I picked up this plant as an afterthought because they said it would grow well in the shade. This is the beginning of the third season, the weather here has been yucky and cold almost through May. We've managed to get our 1st whole warm week, and nothing has managed to grow yet except my coral bells and hostas. Last summer we got a new puppy and the dogs DESTROYED this poor plant. Yet, I went out to see if it had started sprouting the other day, and it's already a good 2 1/2 feet high, 4 feet across, and flowering! It sits in the worst place in my yard and it's the best plant I have. My husband even leaned the old sliding glass door screen over it against the house! I'm going to try to spread it down the rest of the shade b... read more |
Positive | On May 11, 2007, bsimpson1972 from Chicago, IL (Zone 6a) wrote: Well, the same, everybody has to add: Not too much shade, not too much sun, a little bit of a diva.... When established, keep weeds or other "Aggressors" in check, and you'll have one of the most beautiful and easy to care for perennials! Loving it! HIGHLY recommended! You'll need a cold winter, though.... I guess, it won't do too well in the warmer areas! |
Positive | On Mar 31, 2007, baileykat from Bay Area, CA (Zone 9b) wrote: Die back to the ground in the summer heat. Sprouted back, blooms first, no foliage whatsoever at the end of winter/early spring, the foliage soon follow. A very cute plant. The blooms are a hit with young children. |
Positive | On Dec 15, 2006, jhiller from St. John's, Grows well in Newfoundland, Canada, |
Positive | On Nov 18, 2006, Marilynbeth from Hebron, KY wrote: I love it! I've been growing Bleeding Heart (Pink variety) for many years. I've been growing the White one for several years. I let them go to seed and I get free volunteers! I get so excited to see the new ones! |
Positive | On Aug 12, 2006, Sherlock221 from Lancaster, KY wrote: This is a lovely, interesting plant. As one other person noted, I too have had it die back completely in summer, especially during drought periods -- however, it always comes back the next spring, even though it appeared to have died. So don't give up on them too early! Somone else mentioned that when they die back, they leave a big empty space in the garden. I recommended planting them with astilbe and ferns like I did -- those plants are slower to start in spring and are getting larger as they bleeding heart dies back, so they hide it and then fill in the space it leaves. Plus the different textures of the three look very nice together. Mine is growing in a fairly shady area that gets a little bit of filtered sun. It's growing beneath a huge Cornelian Cherry Dogwood and right agai... read more |
Positive | On Aug 8, 2006, miraclepixie from Far Hills, NJ wrote: My 92 year old neighbor just had her yard landscaped. 2 bleeding hearts were installed and have begun to look peakish and yellow. I heard about DG and decided to sign up and check it out. It looks like she has normal plants in NJ. We had a hot spell in late July, and I think it took it's toll on her plants. I will let here know that DG had good information! We'll be patient and wait until next spring to enjoy the plants when they bloom again. SQ. |
Positive | On Jul 17, 2006, sandy4 from Reading, MA wrote: I have about 30 of these plants in my yard. I have noticed the white variety stands up to summer heat a lot better than the old fashioned pink variety. Mine grow fine just about anywhere in my yard. Some are even growing in sand between my patio blocks. The older plants tend to die back completely early once it gets too hot but they always come back the following spring if the ground isn't disturbed. They grow very well in shade under pine trees. Once the plants are established drought will not kill them easily. Young plants should be watered more often. |
Positive | On Jun 3, 2006, SummerRain from Naperville, IL wrote: I have a bleeding heart planted in a shady garden right under a tree. It puts on a spectacular show in the spring and is a sight for sore eyes after a long winter. |
Positive | On May 28, 2006, staceysmom from (GayLynn) Appleton, WI (Zone 5a) wrote: Planted this little beauty in a shady spot in my backyard last year. It grew beautifully and blossomed then something chewed through the stalk and it was gone. Was going to buy another to replace it this spring but found it was coming up again. Sure enough something ate it again. But it's a fighter. It has come up a second time this spring. It is now about a foot tall and doing great. Guess as long as nothing happens to the roots it will keep coming back. |
Neutral | On May 26, 2006, JoieM from Portland, OR (Zone 8a) wrote: This puts on a big, dramatic show from April to June here and it is amazing and beautiful, BUT it spreads like crazy and after it is done blooming, the foliage, which I don't find all that attractive, remains way too long and starts to get a little funky. Then it dies back for the rest of the year and I have a very conspicuous bare spot. |
Positive | On May 21, 2006, bunnytut from Sammamish, WA wrote: I remember my grandmother growing this plant in her |
Positive | On May 20, 2006, Pashta from Moncks Corner, SC (Zone 8b) wrote: Success on my seventh attempt to grow this plant! I grow them in memory of my grandmother, who could always make things grow just by looking at them. She had them in a wildflower garden in Massachussettes, with paph's and some other hard to grow beauties. |
Positive | On May 17, 2006, tybrut from Plaistow, NH wrote: This plant was one of the first perrenial that I planted next to my bench when I moved to my home 11 years ago. It is absolutely stunning at its peak. It does get ratty once it becomes very warm but the plant goes dormant in the summer. At that point, I just give it a hard cut and my other flowers are there to take over. |
Negative | On May 14, 2006, herbmoxie from Annandale, NJ (Zone 6b) wrote: This is a beautiful plant in May...but looks really ratty in August. That hasn't stopped me from keeping them because they are one of the earliest to come up in the spring. Unlike the other negative commentary...who said they couldn't get them to grow...they have become invasive in my yard. I can't get rid of one section that has rooted under my fence and must have had 20 seedling this spring. Once they get going, you can't get rid of them. I think they can grow from a single molecule left in the ground. HM |
Positive | On May 5, 2006, sumer64 from Austin, IN (Zone 7b) wrote: I have found that this plant grows in my area (southern Indiana) much better if it has more shade then sun. I planted it once in part shade/sun and lost all but the roots, but then planted it next to my deck under a tree with more shade and it is doing wonderful this year. It has doubled in size and the flowers are perfect, no problems with the leaves either, moderate water. |
Positive | On Apr 21, 2006, massgardener from Worcester, MA wrote: I transplanted 2 small, spindly bleeding hearts from a friend's shady back yard here in Worcester, MA, where they were growing more or less wild between the rocks of an old stone wall. I tucked them into a shady corner of my own yard and they grew beautifully into thriving bushes with very little fuss or special care -- my children love the heart-shaped blossoms and the little "crystals" that hang from them. They come back vigorously every spring and bloom until June. They're a very easy and very rewarding plant to grow. |
Positive | On Apr 17, 2006, joylee68 from Pleasant City, OH wrote: I bought one last spring at a small store, and brought it home and planted in a shady spot on my bank in the shade, behind a heartshaped sandstone, and this spring, it is taking off beautifully. It's only about 12" high, but hope for it to grow bigger. |
Positive | On Apr 5, 2006, gee_oh_nyc from New York, NY (Zone 7a) wrote: I live in New York City and have a very small garden in the back of the building. In the shady nooks of my garden where nothing else has been able to grow this plant thrives. I bought one plant at a Farmer's Market 3 years ago and have been able to divide it each year to fill in another spot. It dies off (pretty much completely) during the summer... but what a great feeling to see it push back the soil in the spring each year. |
Negative | On Mar 26, 2006, quilt from Olive Branch, MS (Zone 7b) wrote: Purchased 2 plants last spring and planted in my semi-shade garden. Lost both plants and do not know what the problem was, not a lot of sun and proper drainage and water. The plants were healthy when planted but never did well--- |
Positive | On Mar 9, 2006, billyporter from Nichols, IA (Zone 5a) wrote: This is my absolute favorite spring bloomer. Mine is planted on the north side of a garage so it gets enough water running off the roof to live all summer. It reseeds better than the white ones. I've had mine since 1988 and they're huge! |
Positive | On Feb 21, 2006, TBGDN from (Zone 5a) wrote: Easy; hardy; self sews; loves shade; hates 'wet feet', Nice! |
Positive | On Jan 26, 2006, raisedbedbob from Walkerton, VA (Zone 7a) wrote: The may be the easiest perrenial I've ever grown. I planted two cuttings in an Azalea bed, and I haven't done anything else except water when it gets really dry. |
Positive | On Jan 25, 2006, Gabrielle from (Zone 5a) wrote: I love bleeding hearts. The flowers look more like a little girl's charm necklace than a real, living plant. It is just so fascinating. They may die back in the heat of summer, but come back in spring. Stratification in a moist medium aids germination of seeds; they are slow to germinate. Blooms April-June in my garden. |
Negative | On Nov 17, 2005, admodeva from Dutton, AL (Zone 7a) wrote: I love this plant, but have tried 3 different plants in 3 separate locations and can't grow it. A lot of plants are listed that they will grow in zone 7, and the summer heat kicks in, and they die, no matter the water, shade, etc. I think it's too hot for this plant here. |
Neutral | On Jun 17, 2005, llebpmac_bob from Zephyr, Very impressive while it's with you- as one other poster said they can get to be about 4 feet across- but they do leave an awful hole in the garden when they go dormant for the year. I stick a couple of containers full of annuals in the space they leave. If you don't like the empty space you might try the smaller D. eximia. Mine stay all year. and you get a choice of pinkish or white flowers depending on the variety. |
Positive | On May 21, 2005, sanity101 from Dublin, OH (Zone 5b) wrote: I would recommend spacing them farther than is listed. Once established, these can have a lateral spread of 4' or more, and mine are crowding each other significantly. Most impressive spring plant in my garden. Does die back by mid-June, though I've yet to find a good plant to fill the space. |
Positive | On May 19, 2005, nevadagdn from Sparks, NV (Zone 7a) wrote: In my area, this plant grows well in shade and moist soil. |
Positive | On May 19, 2005, Cesca_B from Henderson, KY wrote: After having this plant die back last year, we thought for sure that it wouldn't come back this year. Well, lo and behold, it came back with an explosion of leaves and little bleeding hearts. It's planted in the shade with some lovely hostas behind it, the color offset (and the leaf size offset as well) is very pretty. |
Positive | On Jul 7, 2004, hanna1 from Castro Valley, CA (Zone 9a) wrote: I planted one in February, did quite well, quite large, can't wait for next early spring. Another just came up last month, waiting to see what it will do. We have been at our home for 1 year. |
Positive | On Apr 29, 2004, mwhipple wrote: I have two bleeding hearts growing on the south side of my house, under the shade of a big pine tree. I bought them 2 years ago from a local greenhouse when they were just tiny little things. Now they are HUGE!! I'm very happy with them! They are the first flowers to bloom in the spring (end of April) and they re-bloom throughout the summer. Hummingbirds buzz around them occassionally. Our soil is heavy clay but I give them lots of compost in the spring and cover the beds with bark mulch. I've had no problems with them--very easy to care for. |
Negative | On Sep 21, 2003, htop from San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) wrote: San Antonio, TX |
Positive | On Aug 10, 2003, starshine from Bend, OR (Zone 6a) wrote: Dicentra (from the Greek words dis, meaning “two”, and kentros, meaning “spurs”) are spring blooming. Generally, the cooler the location, the longer the blooms will last. |
Neutral | On Aug 7, 2003, vagardener from Springfield, VA wrote: This is a lovely plant that I planted in a border that receives nice mid-morning sun and shade the rest of the day. It loves the location and returns bigger and stronger each year. Unfortunately, it does not last much beyond early June no matter what I try to keep it going. I grew it in Southern Connecticut in full sun and it lasted a bit longer, but it was gone by mid-August. |
Positive | On Aug 6, 2003, SueP64 from Centerbrook, CT wrote: If you plan to move this plant be certain to get ALL of its brittle, fleshy roots. I must have missed a piece (thought I had checked carefully) and found a new plant growing exactly where I didn't want it this spring. I would say Common Bleeding heart transplants very easily. The original plant (2 years old) was relocated to an area in deep shade where it grew to 48" high and around. |
Positive | On Jun 6, 2003, CanadaGoose from Oakville, ON (Zone 5b) wrote: Grows well in my shade garden. Plant is currently 3 years old and about 2.5 ft tall by approximately 6 ft wide. Will divide next spring. |
Positive | On Jun 5, 2003, auntgracie from Danielson, CT wrote: This plant grows in my garden under medium to heavy shade in well-drained, composted soil. It seems to thrive there, but dies back when the summer gets too hot. It loved the extreme cold we had this last winter here in northeastern Connecticut and went nuts this spring. It's a 2-year old plant and already is about 2 1/2 feet wide by about 3 feet tall. It's quite spectacular. |
Positive | On May 27, 2003, mh from Mississauga, I have had success with this plant in a full sun location, in sandy soil, by keeping the soil moist at all times. |
Positive | On Apr 15, 2003, crystal42683 wrote: I don't know much about this flower. I live in Washington State, and it was in my backyard when I moved in. It is beautiful, and I wasn't even trying, lol! |
Positive | On Jan 5, 2003, lupinelover from Grove City, OH (Zone 6a) wrote: Drought sends this plant into early dormancy; prolonged wet soil makes it die. Best in that infamous "moist, well-drained soil". |
Positive | On Aug 31, 2002, Weezingreens from Seward, AK (Zone 3b) wrote: Bleeding Heart, grows well in cool climate in Southcentral Alaska. The shoots start to pop up through the mulch sometime in April, and we have blooms in June. The plant never dies back in the summer and continues to bloom, though not as profusely. |
Neutral | On Nov 17, 2000, jody from MD &, VA (Zone 7b) wrote: Grows 24" to 36" high, and 18" to 24" spread. Flowers are heart shaped and usually pink, although there are white, red, purple, and yellow varieties, as well. The white species 'alba' comes true from seed. Flowers in late spring to early summer and dies down to the ground afterwards. The leaves are very graceful. Best cultivated in light shade, humus rich, well draining soil. Propagate from division or seed. They don't flower well or grow well without a period of winter cold. Hardy zones 2-9. |