Plant field guide
Bleeding Heart
Elegant arching stems of heart-shaped flowers. A shade garden treasure.
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) – 36 in (91 cm)
- Spacing
- Not recorded
- 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.
Goes dormant in summer heat. Plant companions to fill the gap.
Pruning
Cut back yellowing foliage in summer when plant goes dormant. Avoid disturbing roots.
Fertilizer
Balanced organic
Early spring
Mulch
2-3 inches of organic mulch to keep roots cool.