How to Care for Bleeding Hearts

Those shady spots in the garden don’t have to remain bare. Bleeding hearts (Dicentra spectabilis), a native of Japan, thrive in cool, shady locations. Bleeding hearts display a fuchsia-like growth habit, with arching stems spiked with pink or white flowers. Bloom time is spring through summer. The bleeding heart goes dormant in the summer heat, so don’t be alarmed if it appears to be dying. Bleeding heart is hardy to United States Department of Agriculture zones 3 through 9.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

things you’ll need:

• Mulch
• Rake
• Compost
• Pruning shears

1. Grow the bleeding hearts in a shady area. Although morning sun won’t harm the plant, it flowers better in light to heavy shade.
2. Give the bleeding hearts enough water to keep the soil moist at all times.
3. Spread a 2-inch layer of mulch on the soil, 2 inches away from the base of the bleeding hearts, and spread out to the widest part of the plant. Mulch helps to conserve moisture and insulate the plant’s roots.
4. Rake back the mulch in the spring and discard it. Lay down a 1-inch layer of compost and spread it on the soil around the plant. Add a fresh, 2-inch layer of mulch over the compost.
5. Cut the bleeding hearts back to within 2 inches of the surface of the soil after the first killing frost.

Tips & Warnings

• All parts of the bleeding heart plant are poisonous if ingested. Handling the plant may cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals, so wear gloves.