Bleeding heart: plant care, varieties & more

Despite its gloomy name, the bleeding heart plant makes a lovely addition to any garden with its unique blossoms. Read on to find out about some of the most beautiful varieties, how to plant and care for bleeding heart properly and to discover whether the plants are poisonous.

The bleeding heart plant (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) is a spring blooming herbaceous perennial. A classic in cottage gardens, the bleeding heart shrub has impressive, intricately shaped flowers.

Bleeding heart: origin, properties and flowering time

The bleeding heart plant belongs to the fumitory family (Fumariaceae) a subfamily of the poppy family (Papaveraceae). It is still commonly sold in the plant trade under its old name Dicentra spectabilis. The plant is native to China and Korea, where it grows in sparse, moist deciduous forests. The bleeding heart perennial did not reach northern Europe until less than 200 years ago. Its unique flower shape, to which it owes its name, has long captivated people.

Bleeding heart can reach a height of 80cm and has arching stems from which the unique flowers hang. During the flowering period from April to June, each stem bears eight to twelve individual heart-shaped flowers, each with a drop-shaped appendage. The original bleeding heart variety has pink and white flowers. The delicate leaves are strongly pinnate, lobed and bright green. After flowering, the foliage dies back, and the nutrients and reserves are absorbed back into the root ball.

There is a Japanese legend about the characteristic flower shape which says that a young man tried to win a girl’s heart by giving her two rabbits, a pair of shoes and a pair of earrings. When she refused his gifts and therefore his love, he stabbed himself in the heart with a dagger, which turned into a bleeding heart in his grief.

Is bleeding heart bee-friendly? Bleeding heart flowers attract various insects, but due to the elongated shape of the flower, it is mainly long-trunked insects that manage to reach the narrow flower‘s base. Bumblebees use their mouths to bite a hole in the flower to get to the nectar. These holes are then also used as entrances by bees and other insects.

Bleeding heart plant varieties

There are many different bleeding heart plant varieties which differ primarily in terms of flower colour. In addition to the classic variety with pink and white flowers, there are also white, red and yellow flowered varieties. Bleeding heart varieties also sometimes differ in terms of plant height and leaf colour. The foliage of the ′Goldheart′ variety, for example, shines green-yellow and the foliage of the ′Stuart Boothman′ variety has a slightly blue sheen.

White varieties

• Lamprocapnos spectabilis ′Alba′: pure white flowers and light green foliage; height: 50-70cm (somewhat smaller than the original species); flowering time: May to June.
• Lamprocapnos spectabilis ′White Gold′: white flowers and green-yellow foliage; height: 60-90cm; due to the white flowers and light foliage it stands out especially in dark areas of the garden; flowering time: April to June.

Red varieties

• Lamprocapnos spectabilis ′Valentine′: cherry-red and white flowers with dark green-red shimmering leaves; height: 70-80cm; flowering time: May to June.

Other Dicentra species are similar to the bleeding heart in their flower shape and expand the bleeding heart colour spectrum:

• Dicentra formosa ′Luxuriant′: dwarf bleeding heart variety with dark pink flowers; height: 30cm; ground cover; flowering time: June to July.
• Dicentra formosa ′Burning Hearts′: dwarf bleeding heart plant with dark red flowers with white edges; height: 30cm; ground cover; very long flowering time from June to August.

Blue and black varieties

From time to time, you may come across blue and black bleeding heart plants from various internet dealers with no indication of the variety. However, you will not find such plants in professional nurseries as there are no blue varieties of the plant as of yet.

The closest thing you will find to a blue bleeding heart is probably the Dicentra formosa, a related species which has violet-pink flowers and only grows 20 to 30cm tall.

Yellow varieties

Another member of the heart flower genus is the species Dicentra scandens, a yellow species of bleeding heart.

• Dicentra scandens ′Golden Tears′: yellow bleeding heart vine; height: approx. 200cm; bright yellow flowers with slightly red tips; flowering time: June to August. This frost-tender herbaceous climber is grown as an annual in colder climates.

Is bleeding heart hardy?

Bleeding heart is considered hardy in the UK and northern Europe and can tolerate temperatures in the double-digit minus range. In autumn, cover plants in the garden bed with a protective layer of leaves to be on the safe side.

Overwinter potted bleeding hearts in a frost-free place, as the entire pot, and thus the roots, are at risk of freezing on very cold winter days.

Planting bleeding heart plants

The right time to plant bleeding hearts is as soon as there is no more ground frost in spring. Although bleeding heart plants are hardy, some large, heavily fertilised plants from garden centres do not tolerate frost. Hardy perennials from professional perennial nurseries are a different story. To be on the safe side, hold off on planting bleeding hearts until mid-May. If planted earlier, cover your bleeding hearts with fleece or upside-down terracotta pots. By planting it early, the plant will have enough time until its first winter to develop roots and establish itself in its location.

Growing bleeding hearts from seed is an alternative to planting pre-grown specimens. Harvest the seeds of the plants as soon as they are fully developed to sow bleeding heart seeds. There is no need to store the seeds, simply scatter them in a flower bed and mark where you planted them. New seedlings will sprout from the seeds in either the same or the following year.

The best place to plant bleeding hearts

Due to its native habitat, bleeding heart prefers a spot near the edge of the woods or flower beds in partial shade. It is best to plant it in a well-rooted perennial flower bed that is partially shaded by trees or shrubs. Soils that are slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, nutrient-rich, humus-rich, moist, and not too heavy are ideal.

How to plant

Lamprocapnos spectabilis grows best when planted alone or as the main perennial in a flower bed. Other related species can be planted together in small groups. Plant one to three plants per square metre, leaving 60 to 80cm between each one.

First dig a hole twice the size of the root ball. Place the plant in the hole and put back as much of the excavated soil as needed for the top of the root ball to be level with the soil surface. Cover the root ball with the remaining soil.

Enrich the soil with a little compost or with a slow-release fertiliser such as our Plantura Flower Food to ensure the best possible growing conditions for the bleeding heart. Then press down around the plant and water generously.

Bleeding hearts can also be grown in pots on the balcony, if there is a semi-shady spot and a large enough container available. When choosing a container, it is best to opt for a plastic pot or a glazed clay pot. An open-pored terracotta pot will dry out too quickly. Our peat-free Plantura Organic Flower Compost is ideal as a substrate as it contains all of the nutrients needed for optimal bleeding hearts growth.

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Bleeding heart plant care: watering, fertilising and pruning

Especially at the beginning of its development, keep the soil around your bleeding heart moist. However, do not overwater as it could cause waterlogging and lead to root rot. When choosing a planter, make sure it is the right size and that it has a drainage hole. For optimal water drainage, place shards of broken terracotta pots or expanded clay at the bottom of the pot.

Other than this, bleeding hearts are very low-maintenance. To ensure that the bleeding heart has all of the nutrients it needs, mix some compost, manure or our Plantura Flower Food into the soil in spring to promote growth. Its balanced nutrient composition keeps your plants healthy and resistant and promotes soil life.

Tip: Forming seeds costs the plant a lot of energy. To prevent this, dead head the faded individual flowers. This can even prolong the flowering period.

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Pruning bleeding hearts is not necessary as the plant dies back to its roots after flowering. However, if the yellowed foliage bothers you, cut off the wilted plant parts close to the ground in late summer.

Is bleeding heart poisonous?

The bleeding heart is poisonous. All parts of the plant, especially the roots, contain a toxin called isoquinoline alkaloids which causes skin irritation when touched and when eaten can also lead to pain in the mouth, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and even colic, respiratory distress and could cause you to collapse.

Bleeding heart can be wonderfully combined with other hardy, robust perennials in a flower bed, providing a colourful variety of flowers for insects. Find out more about other hardy perennials here.