March Perennial of the Month-Bleeding heart

Oh, be still my heart! Can there be a more charming perennial than bleeding heart?

Lamprocapnos spectabilis (Syn. Dicentra spectabilis) is a super low-maintenance perennial that is a great companion in the shade garden. Typically, it grows to 24″ high and wide, and although it doesn’t bloom until May, the foliage is one of the first to emerge as soon as the ground warms. Like a guest that always comes early to your party, it’s also the first to leave, going dormant by mid-summer. 

Closely related to our Missouri native, Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria), the similar flower structures make them one of the easiest recognizable spring ephemerals.

‘Alba’ has been a staple in my garden for almost 20 years. It reseeds occasionally and comes true to seed-meaning the seedlings will also bloom white. I find the foliage on ‘Alba’ lasts much longer than the pink varieties. Cutting back the foliage in late spring/early summer can even trigger rebloom.

Some fun hybrids are available and worth adding to your shade garden, such as ‘Luxuriant’ with its finely lobed, blue-gray foliage and ‘Gold Heart’ with bright chartreuse foliage.

All bleeding hearts require organically rich soil. They prefer that sweet spot between well-drained and not-too-dry. If too dry, they can go into dormancy prematurely.

What I love about this plant-
-Unique, charming flowers in pink or white.
-Easy care
-Tolerates shade
-Great companion to hostas and ferns in a shade garden.
-Rabbit tolerant

What’s not so great-
-The plant tends to go dormant in summer. Try planting late-season perennials like hardy begonias to fill in the holes or move potted annuals into the void.

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Words and photos by Jo Batzer

© Jo Batzer, garden-lou.com-2023, All rights reserved.