The Beautiful Bleeding Heart
This magnificent shade loving perennial is an excellent addition to any garden.
Dicentra spectabilis, more commonly known as bleeding heart is a shade loving perennial native to Japan. This specie can grow up to 36 inches tall with its green fern-like ternate leaves (having three leaflets projecting from the same point). It produces 3-15 individual heart-shaped dangling flowers with pink outer petals and white inner petals. The name comes from the appearance of the pink flowers which resemble the shape of a heart with the inner petal looking like a descending drop of blood.
The plant delights in cool, moist conditions. Flowering season is from early spring through summer in cool areas. This popular ornamental plant for flower gardens in temperate climates is also used as a cut flower. It grows best in partial shady areas with humus rich and moist but well-drained soil in warm climates and under full sun in cool areas. Possible problems include aphids and snail pestation which cause damage to the leaves, too much moisture can also cause crown rot.
Bleeding hearts can be difficult to germinate from seeds; propagation can best be done by dividing the well established plant. Some words of caution: this easy to grow plant has alkaloids which can cause skin irritation in some people.
The gorgeous, small heart-shaped blooms come in shades of yellow, red, pink and white. Other names include: Venus’ car, Dutchman’s trousers and lyre flower.
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23 Responses to “The Beautiful Bleeding Heart”
On March 14, 2009 at 3:28 am
there pretty cool flowers!
On March 14, 2009 at 3:35 am
They’re beautiful, thanks for sharing. Cool, moist conditions – sounds perfect for the English climate!
On March 14, 2009 at 3:45 am
very beautiful
On March 14, 2009 at 3:59 am
that’s cool. amazing shots…
On March 14, 2009 at 7:19 am
nice one
On March 14, 2009 at 7:46 am
Feels like Spring!
On March 14, 2009 at 8:40 am
They look pretty. Cool shots.
On March 14, 2009 at 10:43 am
Awesome pics and info!
On March 14, 2009 at 10:58 am
Excellent! That was wonderful! well-written piece with amazing pics. Yhanx 4 sharing
On March 14, 2009 at 3:45 pm
What a wonderful read……very beautiful, delicate looking blooms..
On March 14, 2009 at 3:49 pm
what a garden of words and pictures.. very pretty!
On March 14, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Beautiful pictures,and good article:)
On March 14, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Magnificent piece. The photos are exquisite.
On March 14, 2009 at 9:25 pm
They are striking and elegant, I love bleeding hearts and sweet peas. I think they are somewhat alike, lovely pictures.
On March 15, 2009 at 12:48 pm
So lovely, it just had to be blogged!
http://www.webphemera.com/2009/03/beautiful-bleeding-heart.html
Thanks!
RJ
On March 15, 2009 at 10:37 pm
what a wonderful collection, JK… stunningly beautiful flowers, i cant help but stare!
On March 17, 2009 at 1:33 am
So beautiful! I would like to have one in my garden…
On March 21, 2009 at 11:38 am
What an unusual flower – I had never seen it before!
On March 24, 2009 at 2:26 pm
I miss the one we had growing up! What a great way to remember it. Im going to plant me one this year!
On March 25, 2009 at 10:42 am
Really powerful and natural
On March 26, 2009 at 1:10 am
Oh my… these are beautiful. Very different from any flower that i have seen.
On March 26, 2009 at 11:47 pm
They are a beautiful flower- always wanted to grow one.
On April 6, 2009 at 9:38 pm
This is fascinating! I haven’t seen these before — beautiful pics!
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