Bleeding Heart

Bleeding Heart, Dicentra eximia, is a native wildflower that typically occurs on forest floors, rocky woods and ledges. Features deeply-cut, fern-like, grayish-green, foliage which persists throughout the growing season and pink to purplish red, nodding, heart-shaped flowers carried above the foliage on long, leafless, leaning stems. Protruding inner petals of the flower appear to form a drop of blood at the bottom of each heart-shaped flower (hence the common name of bleeding heart). Plant typically grows to 15" tall, with the flower stems and basal leaves growing directly out of the scaly rootstock. Bloom begins in late spring. In cooler climates, flowering may continue throughout the summer, but in the hotter climates, the flowering will generally stop in hot weather, with a possible rebloom occurring only when the weather cools in late summer or early fall.

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in part shade. Prefers moist, humusy soils. Intolerant of wet soils in winter and dry soils in summer. Naturalizes by self-seeding in favorable environments.