Bleeding Heart

Lamprocapnos spectabilis

Also known as: Lamprocapnos, Dicentra

Bleeding Heart is a flower in the Papaveraceae family. It grows best in part shade to shade with medium moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 3-9.

Varieties

1 · sorted by days to maturity

▸Old-Fashioned Bleeding Heart
PROPAGATION CATEGORY: Tuberous root (not currently in seed catalog). Bloom season: Spring. Attracts: Hummingbirds, bees. Flower meaning: Deep love, compassion.
Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis, formerly Dicentra) is a classic shade perennial with arching stems of heart-shaped pink or white blooms in spring. Goes dormant in summer heat. Grown from divisions; hardy in zones 3-9.
Growing notes: Botanical name: Lamprocapnos spectabilis|Hardiness zones: 3-9|Propagation: division|Sun needs: Part shade to shade|Water needs: Medium|Mature height: 2-3 feet|Spacing: 24 inches|Bloom season: Spring

Family

Papaveraceae

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Growing timeline

Propagation

Division

Schedule anchor

Last Frost

Care & troubleshooting— extension-sourced, with citations

When to feed, prune & water

Attract beneficial insects and protect pollinators

Protection

Routine carePlant insectary flowers and tolerate light pestsstrong evidence — extension confidence
Grow a diversity of flowering plants (including small-flowered umbels and asters) to feed predators and parasitoids, and tolerate low pest numbers so natural enemies have prey to stick around.
Source: UC IPM; UMN Extension
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Routine careNever spray open bloomsstrong evidence — extension confidence
Avoid insecticides on flowering plants and apply any needed sprays in the evening when pollinators aren't active, and favor selective products over broad-spectrum ones to spare bees and beneficials.
Source: UC IPM
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Something looks wrong?

Describe what you see on your bleeding heartand we'll rank the likely causes — most likely first, least-invasive fix first.

Aphids

Pestlow

Symptoms: clusters of tiny soft-bodied insects on new growth and undersides; sticky honeydew or sooty mold; curled distorted new leaves; ants tending them

CulturalBlast off with water· every 3 days · ~2 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
Knock colonies off with a strong jet of water in the morning; repeat every few days. Light infestations rarely need more.
Source: UC IPM: Aphids
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OrganicInsecticidal soap - label use only· every 1 wk · ~3 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
For persistent colonies apply insecticidal soap to undersides per label. Avoid open flowers.
Always follow the product label — it is the law.
Source: UC IPM
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