How to Care for the Bleeding Hearts Flower

Bleeding hearts are a favorite flowering perennial that bloom in early spring through mid-summer in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 9. They do best when planted in a semi-shady site with well-drained soil enriched with rotted organic matter. Bleeding hearts are moisture-loving plants with tender, fern-like foliage and delicate heart-shaped flowers of pink, white, yellow, or red. After planting, bleeding hearts require proper watering and feeding to remain healthy.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

things you’ll need:

• Slow-acting granular fertilizer
• Organic compost
• Pruning shears
• Organic mulch

1. Water twice a week in the spring and water once a week in the summer if rainfall is less than an inch. In dry climates, water daily as needed.
2. Fertilize once in the spring with a slow-acting granular fertilizer. Sprinkle the granules on the soil around the plants.
3. Place 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch around the plants to help keep the soil moist and weed free.
4. Remove the stems of spent flowers regularly, using pruning shears, to encourage longer blooming.
5. Trim back the foliage in the fall to 3 to 4 inches, using pruning shears, and cover with 2 to 3 inches of mulch to provide protection against freezing in winter.
6. Remove the mulch when new growth begins to appear in the spring and apply a light layer of organic compost.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep the soil moist, but don’t overwater.

• Bleeding heart foliage and roots may be poisonous in large amounts and have been proven fatal to cattle.