Bleeding Hearts
Planning for Favorite Spring Flowers
Bleeding Hearts are the flowers of fairy tales. They are native to Japan, Korea, Northern China and as far north as Siberia. Their magical shape and pink flowers brighten shady spots in early spring when the air is crisp and snow may still dust the landscape.
The Bleeding Heart, like other woodland plants, grow well in urban gardens where buildings create shady if not fully shaded growing places. Bleeding hearts are perennials and low maintenance growers.
In keeping with their fairy tale association, they are toxic and despite being a symbol love and purity, they can be poisonous to dogs, cats and kids if ingested in large quantities. The plus side to this toxicity is the Bleeding Heart plant is deer resistant.
Lamprocapnos spectabilis is the botanical name of the Bleeding Heart. Greek words lampros meaning shining or bright, kapnos meaning smoke and spectabilis meaning spectacular. You will also find them called Dicentra meaning two spurs spectabilis . Name changes come with greater DNA investigation and species discovery.
When to plant
Woodland plants like the Bleeding Heart do well with a winter dormancy period. Ideally planting seeds or roots in fall allow plants to get situated and comfortable for spring flowers. It takes 3 to 4 weeks for germination and this is best done just before the first frost. Once the winter freeze has left, plants and flowers will appear in 60 days. Here in Brooklyn, the first freeze is in mid to late November. Therefore, seeds and roots should be planted in early November.
Click here for FIRST AND LAST FROST CALCULATOR from The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
If you missed the fall planting season, bare roots or plants are the way to go and they are sold and shipped in early spring to be planted after the last freeze. Bare roots are more expensive but they tend to germinate easier than seeds. Plants are the most expensive option however, they are instant satisfaction. The Bleeding Heart plant is a hardy perennial that will grow for years to come.
Where to plant
The Bleeding Heart grows in zones 3 to 8 and western zone 9.
Click here for US GROWING ZONES
Bleeding Hearts grow best in partial shade with morning sun and afternoon shade. They can also grow in full shade with dappled light that comes through deciduous tree leaves.
The Bleeding Heart plant is a reliable perennial that will bloom through spring. When summer heat sets in and blooms are gone and leaves are turning yellow, foliage can be cut back and annuals can hold their place. Be mindful not to dig up Bleeding Heart roots when adding annuals to containers or flower beds.
They will spread and can crowd. It is good to separate them every 3 years. This is best done when they sprout in early spring by separating connected roots to replant elsewhere or better yet, to give as a gift.
How to plant
Seeds should be planted in fall a month before the first frost 1 foot apart in a 2 inch hole. Bare roots and plants can be planted in fall or a month before the last frost in spring 1 to 2 feet apart, 2 inches deep.
Remember that Bleeding Heart plants are woodland dwellers so think mulch and moist, like a forest floor for soil type. Surround seeds or roots with compost and top with leafy mulch.
Water well upon planting and see to it that soil around the plants is never dry. New plants will need a weekly watering until they bloom. After the first year, Mother Nature will take care of the watering unless it just happens to be a warmer, drier than usual spring.
Bleeding Hearts grow well with Forget-Me-Nots, Hosta Lilies and Ferns.
