Plant field guide
Bleeding Heart
Romantic arching stems hung with heart-shaped flowers. Classic cottage garden and shade garden plant. Goes dormant in summer heat.
Growing requirements
- Scientific name
- Lamprocapnos spectabilis
- Sun
- partial shade
- Water
- moderate
- Height
- 24 in (61 cm) – 36 in (91 cm)
- Spread
- 18 in (46 cm) – 30 in (76 cm)
- Spacing
- 24 in (61 cm)
- Hardiness zones & minimum temperature
- USDA 3–9; average annual extreme minimum from -40°F (-40.0°C). Hardiness does not predict local frost dates.
- Difficulty
- easy
Planting & seasonal timing
Northern Hemisphere planting months: not yet verified in our database.
Northern Hemisphere pruning months: July, August.
For the Southern Hemisphere, these seasonal windows shift approximately six months. Check your local frost forecast, soil temperature, and species requirements; calendar months are not a guarantee of planting safety.
Foliage dies back in summer - plant companions to fill the gap. 'Gold Heart' has golden foliage. Alba is a white form.
Pruning
Allow foliage to yellow naturally before removing. Mark location so you don't dig into dormant roots.
Fertilizer
Balanced organic
Early spring as growth emerges
Mulch
2-3 inches of organic mulch.