Taxonomy of Bleeding Hearts:
Plant taxonomy classifies the most popular bleeding hearts as Dicentra spectabilis.
Plant Type for Bleeding Hearts:
Bleeding hearts are herbaceous perennials.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones for Bleeding Hearts:
Bleeding hearts are growable in planting zones 3-9.
Characteristics of Bleeding Hearts:
Bleeding hearts usually reach 2'-3' in height with a similar spread. The plants' flowers are either pink or white, and they appear in April or May.
Other Species of Bleeding Hearts:
Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) bear white flowers that truly do remind one of pairs of pants hung out to dry. Fringed bleeding hearts (Dicentra eximia) bear dusty-pink blooms, and their foliage is prized for its fringe-like texture.
Sun and Soil Requirements for Bleeding Hearts:
Grow bleeding hearts in partial shade to full shade, in a well-drained soil that has plenty of humus.
Uses for Bleeding Hearts in Landscape Design:
Bleeding hearts are traditional favorites in shade gardens. Their foliage tends to die back after the plants are done flowering, leaving behind vacant spots in the planting bed. To retard die back, give bleeding heart liberal doses of water after flowering. It's also a good idea to surround bleeding hearts with hosta plants and other shade-loving perennial flowers that will fill in those vacant spots during the summer. Bleeding hearts are striking enough to warrant their use as specimen plants in spring.
Outstanding Characteristic of Bleeding Hearts:
The outstanding characteristic of bleeding hearts is no doubt the shape of the flowers. As the plants' common name suggests, bleeding hearts bear heart-shaped flowers, from which a little "drop of blood" dangles at the bottom.
