The distinctive heart-shaped flowers ofDicentra spectabilishave inspired a romantic tale of love and loss.
The plant forms a bushy mound of deeply divided medium green leaves that can spread up to three feet.
The flowers stems can be cut for the vase.
Bleeding Hearts team up well with Solomons Seal, Painted Ferns, Hostas or Coleus.
Spring Gardening Care
Bleeding Hearts are usually purchased as potted plants often already in bloom.
In areas where summers are hot, Bleeding Hearts prefer full to part shade.
But in colder zones, they can withstand full sun.
Bleeding Hearts require a cold dormant spell to develop the flower buds for the next spring bloom.
As the weather grows hotter the foliage will fade and the plant will have gone fully dormant by mid-August.
In cooler climates the foliage may persist weakly until frost.
Fringe-leaved Bleeding Hearts are an exception to these instructions, according to TheGardenLady.org.
This variety ofDicentrashould be divided in spring while the foliage is emerging.
Sprinkling crushed egg shells or sharp sand around the plant will discourage crawling pests.
Treat aphid infestations with insecticidal soap.
There is nothing fickle about this hardy pink and white flowering performer in the spring garden.
