Are Bleeding Hearts Perennials in Zone 7?

Bleeding hearts (Dicentra genus) are herbaceous perennials suitable for shade gardens. They make good companion plants to ferns and hostas and are seldom bothered by insects or disease. There are white-flowered cultivars of both species available.

Zone 7 Climate

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones divide the United States into 11 different planting zones, based on lowest average winter temperature. Zone 7 has winter minimums of 0 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The largest area covered by Zone 7 is a band running from New Jersey and Delaware down to West Texas and parts of New Mexico.

Fringed Bleeding Hearts

• Fringed bleeding hearts (Dicentra eximia) are native wildflowers with ferny, blue-green foliage. They have erect stalks with dangling, heart-shaped pink flowers from summer to fall, if deadheaded. Fringed bleeding hearts tolerate full sun if kept well-watered. The cultivar Luxuriant is a prolific bloomer with bright red flowers. Fringed bleeding heart is hardy in zones 3 through 9.

Old-Fashioned Bleeding Hearts

• Old-fashioned bleeding hearts (Dicentra spectabilis) are spring-blooming perennials from Japan. They have arching sprays of pink-and-white, heart-shaped flowers. It does not rebloom and the whole plant goes dormant in early summer in warmer areas of its range. This bleeding heart is hardy in zones 2 through 9.