Bleeding Heart Perennial Plants in Zone 6

Bleeding hearts are perennial plants with distinctive flowers and foliage, growing in a wide range of colors, shapes and sizes. The common name refers to the protruding inner petals that make up the heart-shaped flowers that resemble a bleeding heart. Many varieties of bleeding heart do well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 6. Keep in mind that zone 6 has an average minimum temperature range of -10 to 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

Western bleeding heart (Dicentra formosa) is a variety of bleeding heart with a spreading growth habit. Low-growing, it reaches just 6 to 12 inches tall and 1 to 3 feet wide and produces heart-shaped, pink flowers that emerge in late spring. The flowers hang from the long, arched stems and attract hummingbirds to the garden. The hardy western bleeding heart is both deer- and drought-tolerant, making for a versatile garden plant. The drifts of fern-like foliage on western bleeding heart is soft blue-green to create a subtle contrast to the bright blooms. Western bleeding heart grows best in part shade and moist, fertile soil. Grow western bleeding heart in zones 4-8.

King of Hearts bleeding heart (Dicentra King of Hearts) has a compact habit, or shape, with nodding, heart-shaped blooms that are a rich carmine-rose color. The flowers on King of Hearts are suspended above the foliage along 10- to 15-inch-long, leafless stems that are erect to leaning slightly. Long-lasting the flowers emerge on King of Hearts in May, fading with summer heat in most areas. King of Hearts produces a 6- to 8-inch-tall mound of deeply-cut, fern-like foliage that is bluish-green. It grows best in part shade and well-drained, moist soil that is humus-rich. Do not allow its soil to dry during summer or become overly wet in winter. Grow King of Hearts in zones 3-8.

Alba bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis Alba) is distinctive for the white color of its flowers. This variety of bleeding heart grows up to 2 ½ feet tall and 2 feet wide. It has larger and less dissected leaves than most other bleeding heart varieties. The soft green, fern-like foliage grows in a mound. The nodding, white, inch-long flowers are borne on one side of the long, arching stalks that grow above the foliage. Flowers on Alba bleeding heart emerge in mid to late spring. They grow best in part to full shade and well-drained, moist soil. Alba bleeding heart is hardy in zones 3-9.