On April 30, 2025
Home and Garden

Bleeding Hearts capture attention with unique form and color  

By Deborah J. Benoit One of the bleeding heart’s most distinctive features is its delicate, heart-shaped flowers that dangle beneath its arching stems.

By Deborah J. Benoit, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont

Have you ever heard of the lady in the bath flower? That’s just one of the common names for bleeding hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis, formerly Dicentra spectabilis). If you’re wondering where that name comes from, look at the flower upside down, and you’ll see her.

Other common names include heart flower, lyre flower, or Asian bleeding heart.

There is a bleeding heart (Dicentra eximia) native to the eastern United States that’s commonly referred to as the fringed bleeding heart. It has grayish-green colored foliage and pink to purple-red flowers and, at about 18 inches in height, is somewhat smaller than Lamprocapnos spectabilis.

Interestingly, while Dicentra spectabilis appears related to our native bleeding heart, genetic testing revealed it is not. This led to it being reclassified as Lamprocapnos spectabilis, many cultivars of which are available to home gardeners.

Bleeding hearts are one of the fleeting pleasures of spring in the garden. Each year, this perennial emerges from the ground, its stems reaching upward and outward. Heart-shaped flowers in combinations of red, white, or pink dangle beneath the arching stems.

Native to Asia, Lamprocapnos spectabilis was introduced to European gardens in the mid-1800s and has been a shade garden favorite since that time.

Bleeding hearts are a charming, old-fashioned flower equally at home in a cottage garden with dappled sunlight or in a woodland shade garden. They are hardy in United States Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 3 to 9.

They grow 2 to 3 feet tall and wide and bloom for 4 to 6 weeks each spring. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds and offer a mild, sweet fragrance.

If you enjoy sharing plants or want more of a good thing for your garden, mature plants can be dug up when dormant, and the root clumps divided using a clean shovel or blade.

Plant in early spring as soon as you can work in the soil. You can also plant during the fall when temperatures are mild to give the roots a chance to establish before the ground freezes. Either way, you may want to mark the planting location to avoid accidentally digging up the roots during its dormant period.

For best results, plant in partial shade or filtered sunlight in rich soil that drains well.  Amend soil with compost if needed.  Heavy soil that retains water may cause root rot.

Add a layer of mulch to help keep moisture levels consistent. Mulch will also help keep the soil cooler during the heat of summer and protect the roots from freezing and thawing in winter.

Feed, if needed, in early spring—according to package directions—to encourage flower and root development.

After it’s finished flowering, the foliage will yellow and die back. The plant will go dormant until the following spring.

Bleeding hearts spread by underground stems called rhizomes or through self-seeding. They’re not considered aggressive in the garden.

They are a low-maintenance plant, but root rot may occur due to standing water or excessive moisture in heavy soil. They’re also a good option if deer or rabbits tend to browse in your garden, as both tend to avoid nibbling on them.

A word of caution:  Although bleeding hearts appear delicate and harmless, all parts of the plant are toxic to pets and humans if eaten. Touching them may cause skin irritation, so wear gloves as a precaution.

If you have questions regarding bleeding hearts or other home-gardening questions, please contact the University of Vermont Extension Master Gardener Helpline at go.uvm.edu/gardenquestion.

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

Strawberry season is in full swing 

June 18, 2025
By Dr. Vern Grubinger/UVM Extension  There’s nothing like the taste of a fresh-picked strawberry. Sweet, juicy, and flavorful, it’s the first fruit to ripen on our local farms, and this year’s crop is a good one.  The buds that produce strawberries were formed last fall. Growers then tucked the plants away under a layer of…

Red Clover: The state flower of Vermont

June 11, 2025
By Nadie VanZandt, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont Introduced to Vermont by European settlers, red clover has become an essential part of the state’s landscape and identity. Designated as the state flower in 1894, this pinkish-purple bloom symbolizes Vermont’s deep agricultural roots—particularly its dairy farming heritage—and serves as a living tribute to the land’s…

Creating your own outdoor oasis: A relaxing retreat in your backyard

May 14, 2025
When May arrives, it’s time to think about spending time in your yard and gardens. But all of your time outdoors shouldn’t be spent working. After all, you need a break from doing “chores”. Creating your own oasis will entice you to relax and enjoy nature while you are outside. Find a spot where you…

There will always be room for tomatoes

May 7, 2025
By Melinda Myers Nothing beats the flavor of fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes. Keep them close at hand by growing one or more containers on your patio, balcony, or front steps. Any tomato can be grown in a pot, but determinate varieties are shorter and more compact, making them a bit easier to manage in a container. They…