Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) in the Bleeding Hearts Database

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Herb/Forb
Sun Requirements:	Partial Shade to Full Shade
Water Preferences:	Mesic
Plant Height:	27 to 39 inches (70-100 cm)
Plant Spread:	20 to 31 inches (50-80 cm)
Leaves:	Spring ephemeral
Fruit:	Other: Long pod with black seeds. Seeds have white fleshy growths (elaiosomes), which are eaten by ants.
Fruiting Time:	Summer
Flowers:	Showy Other: 7 to 15 flowers in a cluster
Flower Color:	Bi-Color: Pink / White
Bloom Size:	Under 1"
Flower Time:	Late winter or early spring Spring Late spring or early summer Summer
Underground structures:	Rhizome
Uses:	Cut Flower Will Naturalize
Toxicity:	Other: may cause skin irritation
Propagation: Seeds:	Needs specific temperature: The seeds need a period of freezing temperatures. Depth to plant seed: 0.5 cm (3/16 inch) Sow in situ Start indoors Can handle transplanting Other info: Sow in autumn or winter, or: Sow at 18-22C for 4 weeks, move to minimum -4C for 6 weeks, move to 5-12C for germination.
Propagation: Other methods:	Cuttings: Root Division Other: Divide after flowering
Miscellaneous:	Goes Dormant

Common names

Bleeding Heart
Old-fashioned Bleeding Heart
Lady-in-a-Bath
Lady's Locket

Botanical names

Accepted: Lamprocapnos spectabilis
Synonym: Dicentra spectabilis

Photo Gallery

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Uploaded by JHeirloomSeeds

Uploaded by JHeirloomSeeds

Location: Pacific Northwest
Date: 2012-05-10

Uploaded by SherriRaye

Location: My garden near Lincoln UK
Date: 2008-05-21
I've had 4 plants in the ground for several years, they increased

Uploaded by JRsbugs

Uploaded by Lucichar

Uploaded by keithp2012

Location: My Garden, Utah
Date: 2015-04-11

Uploaded by dirtdorphins

Uploaded by JHeirloomSeeds

Uploaded by MaryDurtschi

Location: Riverhead, NY
Date: 2018-05-05

Uploaded by Whitebeard

Location: Primorsky Kraj, Russia
Date: 2001
Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis)

Uploaded by Nick_Kurzenko

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: Philadelphia
Date: 04/05/2023
Planted last spring, small plant, blooms emerging

Uploaded by RizzoR

Location: IL
Date: 2019-05-21
A sign of disease? Only one stem looked like this and I cut it of

Uploaded by molanic

Location: Nora's Garden - Castlegar, B.C.
Date: 2015-04-21
3:30 pm. Bleeding Hearts - perfect heart shapes.

Uploaded by HemNorth

Uploaded by MaryDurtschi

Uploaded by mattsmom

Location: Millinocket, Maine
Date: 2023-06-03

Uploaded by TheMainer

Location: my garden, Poland
Date: 2017-04-18

Uploaded by Tynka

Location: Nora's Garden - Castlegar, B.C.
Date: 2017-05-04
10:59 am. Reddish stems and beautiful emerging foliage.

Uploaded by HemNorth

Uploaded by Michelezie

Location: My Gardens
Date: April 24, 2009
General View Of Blooms

Uploaded by TBGDN

Location: Carson City, NV
Date: 2019-04-23

Uploaded by JeffLoflinECV

Location: Indiana
Date: April 2012
Bleeding Heart (Dicentra Spectabilis)

Uploaded by diggit

Uploaded by bumplbea

Location: Howick Hall garden, Northumberland, UK
Date: 2015-03-21

Uploaded by kniphofia

Uploaded by Legalily

Uploaded by molanic

Location: My Gardens
Date: May 3, 2013
In Shade

Uploaded by TBGDN

Uploaded by joannakat

Uploaded by joannakat

Location: My garden, Pequea, Pennsylvania USA
Date: 2018-04-21

Uploaded by csandt

Uploaded by joannakat

Uploaded by keithp2012

Location: Woodbridge , Va
Date: 2018-04-10

Uploaded by krobra

Uploaded by christine00

Uploaded by Michelezie

Uploaded by plantdog

Location: At a local nursery
Date: 2012-03-28
Playing peek-a-boo through the bleeding heart.

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: My garden in Bark River, MI
Date: 2014-06-25
Seed pods on Dicentra spectabilis

Uploaded by Weedwhacker

Location: Carson City, NV
Date: 2020-04-29

Uploaded by JeffLoflinECV

Location: Kerrville, TX
Date: March 31, 2003

Uploaded by dave

Location: West Valley City, UT
Date: 2009-05-06

Uploaded by Zencat

Location: My Gardens
Date: April 18, 2010
Very Close Up

Uploaded by TBGDN

Location: Interlochen, MI
Date: 2012-05-01

Uploaded by randijowilcoxen

Location: Indiana Zone 5
Date: Apr 20, 2011 5:36 PM

Uploaded by gardengus

Location: Riverview, Robson, B.C.
Date: 2007-05-10
4:30 pm. A truly beautiful, reliable and enchanting bloomer.

Uploaded by HemNorth

Location: Riverview, Robson, B.C.
Date: 2011-05-28
11:11 am. Always a magical blossom.

Uploaded by HemNorth

Location: Mountains of northern California
Date: May 03, 2018

Uploaded by RoseBlush1

Location: West Valley City, UT
Date: 2010-04-03

Uploaded by Zencat

Location: Cedarhome, Washington
Date: 2016-03-16

Uploaded by Bonehead

Location: My Gardens
Date: April 28, 2011
General View

Uploaded by TBGDN

Location: My Gardens
Date: May 4, 2011
General View

Uploaded by TBGDN

Uploaded by thommesM

Uploaded by pirl

Location: Harper post, full sun
Date: 2011-0330
Just emerging in spring.

Uploaded by pirl

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: My Gardens
Date: May 16, 2013
Close Shot

Uploaded by TBGDN

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Uploaded by Michelezie

Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2010-05-06

Uploaded by Marilyn

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2009-04-26

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by Bonehead

Location: Cedarhome, Washington
Date: 2010-03-22

Uploaded by Bonehead

Location: Tomato box at garage entrance.
Date: 2014-05-21
Blooming at no more than 4" tall.

Uploaded by pirl

Uploaded by 4susiesjoy

Location: Darwell Rolling Woods, Alberta
Date: 2015-06-17

Uploaded by darwellwoods

Uploaded by HollyAnnS

Location: Kansas City, MO
Date: 2019-04-14

Uploaded by flowerchild75

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by dave

Location: western Oregon
Date: 2016-01-02

Uploaded by duane456

Location: Interlochen, MI
Date: 2012-03-23

Uploaded by randijowilcoxen

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by joannakat

Location: My garden in Gent, Belgium
Date: 2012-03-16

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: my front yard
Date: 2005-04-25

Uploaded by doglover

Uploaded by keithp2012

Uploaded by Gardening_Adventure

Uploaded by krobra

Location: Toronto, Ontario
Date: 2022-06-02
Lady-in-a-bath.

Uploaded by janelp_lee

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Heathcote Ontario Canada
Date: 2015
Dicentra spectabilis a beautiful plant

Uploaded by Permastake

Location: Near garage
Date: 2013-0513
Self-seeded from about 40' away in sand, never fed or tended but

Uploaded by pirl

Location: Grey county Ontario Canada
Date: 2015
Dicentra spectabilis found this in the woods

Uploaded by Permastake

Location: Harper post, full sun
Date: 2011-0513
Filled with blooms.

Uploaded by pirl

Uploaded by Anderwood

Uploaded by Anderwood

Uploaded by admin

Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2015-03-24

Uploaded by Marilyn

Location: Granite Falls, WA
Date: 2015-04-02

Uploaded by SherriRaye

Location: West Valley City, UT
Date: 2011-05-11

Uploaded by Zencat

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2005-04-11

Uploaded by Marilyn

Uploaded by Marilyn

Photo Courtesy of Lazy S'S Farm Nursery.

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by Joy

Location: central Illinois
Date: 4-18-05

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by dave

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by admin

Location: Pleasant Grove, Utah
Date: 2012-03-23

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2012-04-02

Uploaded by chelle

Location: my garden zone 7A Cape Cod, MA
Date: 2017-06-10

Uploaded by sandnsea2

Uploaded by sandnsea2

Location: Athol, MA
Date: 2017-02-25
New growth before spring!

Uploaded by joannakat

Location: Half whiskey barrel planter
Date: 5/31/2010

Uploaded by bsavage

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2012-03-16

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: Sherwood Oregon
Date: 2015-05-25
Progressing blossoms

Uploaded by Toni

Uploaded by Anderwood

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Coastal San Diego County
Date: 2018-05-03

Uploaded by carlysuko

Uploaded by HoodLily

Uploaded by plantdog

Uploaded by vic

Uploaded by GaNinFl

Location: My garden in Bark River, MI
Date: 2015-04-19
Pink- and white-flowered plants emerging in April

Uploaded by Weedwhacker

Location: My Garden of Good and Evil
Date: 2023-03-11

Uploaded by ASalafaDeri

Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2012-04-03

Uploaded by chelle

Uploaded by GaNinFl

Uploaded by robertduval14

Uploaded by robertduval14

This plant is tagged in:

Comments:

Posted by bsavage (Santa Clarita, CA - Zone 9b) on Dec 7, 2011 4:47 PM concerning plant:

Bleeding heart is one of the very first plants that we bought when we moved to Colorado, because I love them and you can't grow bleeding hearts in Arizona, LOL! Every year we are amazed that an even bigger and showier plant comes from what became nothing over the winter. It is the first breath of spring and early summer, very happy in zone 5. Full sun.

Reply to this comment
Posted by SongofJoy (Clarksville, TN - Zone 6b) on Dec 4, 2011 3:52 PM concerning plant:

Grow bleeding hearts in partial shade to full shade, in a well-drained soil that has plenty of humus.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Bonehead (Planet Earth - Zone 8b) on Oct 2, 2013 4:44 PM concerning plant:

Very ornate plant. May go dormant mid-summer in hot weather. If so, just cut it back to the basal mound. This was one of the first flowers my granddaughter could identify, although she called them 'bloody hearts' - which I found a bit more macabre.

Reply to this comment

Plant Events from our members
aspenhill	On March 22, 2024	Obtained plant Costco - qty 10 bare root
aspenhill	On May 4, 2020	Obtained plant Black Creek Greenhouse - qty 3
aspenhill	On April 11, 2017	Obtained plant Black Creek Greenhouse - qty 3; DCA
aspenhill	On May 7, 2016	Obtained plant NGA Susan (Muddy1); HSG Area 6
aspenhill	On May 31, 2014	Obtained plant DG Sally (donnerville) - qty 4; X-HSG Area 5
aspenhill	On May 1, 2014	Obtained plant Home Depot - qty 10; HBP, HSG Area 1, HSG Area 3, HSG Area 5, HSG Area 6
aspenhill	On October 12, 2013	Obtained plant DG Sally (donnerville) - qty 1 HUGE; X-HSG Area 1
aspenhill	On May 19, 2012	Obtained plant DG Judy (coleup) - qty 1; HSG Area 5
aspenhill	On April 17, 2012	Obtained plant Walmart - qty 3; HSG Area 6
gardengus	On April 14, 2023	Bloomed
gardengus	On April 21, 2014	Bloomed
lovesblooms	On March 1, 2020	Seeds sown labeled "white"; winter sow
lovesblooms	On March 15, 2015	Plant emerged
AndreA33	On April 10, 2014	Obtained plant
jg0613	On September 13, 2018	Miscellaneous Event Still have the original plant- the clump gets bigger each year. It continues to do well in the last location I listed, where it remains.
jg0613	On March 24, 2016	Miscellaneous Event Survived the winder, beautiful new foliage growing- no blooms yet. Neighbors' are blooming (the ones ours were divided from) but they have been in that spot for years.
jg0613	On July 15, 2015	Miscellaneous Event Moved to far W end of same bed (most shady area) after getting Lobelias. Had survived winter and grew beautiful foliage which remained good looking even after transplant but never bloomed in 2015.
jg0613	On July 16, 2014	Obtained plant Date approx. Gift from neighbor obtained by dividing their plants. Dormant but planted in ground in N fenced section of backyard in center of shady bed N of detached garage. Remained dormant in 2014.
NikkiGerena	On June 9, 2017	Transplanted
NikkiGerena	On June 1, 2017	Transplanted
KelliW	On March 8, 2019	Plant emerged
antsinmypants	On March 2, 2023	Seeds sown WS

» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant

Thread Title	Last Reply	Replies
Maybe wrong image? by DaylilySLP	Mar 24, 2019 12:23 AM	3

« Add a new plant to the database

» Search the Bleeding Hearts Database: by characteristics or by cultivar name

« See the general plant entry for Bleeding Hearts (Lamprocapnos)

« The Bleeding Hearts Database Front Page

« The Plants Database Front Page

Bleeding Hearts Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis)

Bleeding Hearts

Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis)