Bleeding Heart
Lamprocapnos spectabilis
Bleeding heart is a graceful spring perennial with arching stems hung with heart-shaped pink and white flowers. It thrives in cool, moist shade and dies back in summer heat.
Photo: Wuzur · CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Partial sun
Watering
Moderate
Keep the soil moist in spring; it can dry out once the plant goes dormant.
Soil
Rich, moist, well-drained soil; pH 6.0–7.0.
Temperature and humidity
-35–28 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Mulch with compost in spring.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by division, seed
Cut back foliage once it yellows in summer.
All parts are toxic if eaten and can irritate skin.
Top Cultivation Tips
Mark its spot so you do not dig into it when dormant.
Plant with hostas and ferns to fill the summer gap.
Needs a cold winter.
White-flowered forms are lovely in shade.
Common problems
Aphids
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new shoots and buds, sucking sap and leaving sticky honeydew behind.
How to treat it →DiseaseRoot rot
Roots decay in waterlogged soil, so the plant wilts and yellows even though the soil is wet.
How to treat it →PestSnails and slugs
Night-feeding molluscs that chew ragged holes in leaves, seedlings and soft stems, especially in wet weather.
How to treat it →
