| How do I prepare my bleeding heart for the winter? I live in Washington state, so we get alot of rain and the temperature can sometimes drop below 20 degrees. I don't know how to take care of it for the winter. |
| Dicentra, or Bleeding Heart, is a reliable perennial in the Pacific Northwest. Once it has finished blooming the foliage will begin to yellow and die back. By the end of summer there will be no sign of the plant but the roots will survive the winter and send foliage up in the very early spring. You can mulch over the top of the roots if you like, but there's really nothing that needs to be done other than cutting back the dead foliage at the end of the season. Relax and enjoy your Dicentra - it's a hardy plant despite its tender appearance. |
