Old Fashioned Bleeding Heart

Light Needs

Full Shade to Partial Sun

(0 - 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

3 Feet

Mature Spread

3 Feet

Growing Zones

3 to 8

Few perennials parallel the unique display of one of the most recognizable mainstays of the shade garden, the old fashioned bleeding heart.  The heart-shaped looms appear each spring above attractive, fern-like foliage. Despite having a fairly short season of interest, the spectacular, interesting flowers more than make up for it. Few maintenance needs, an ability to thrive in darker parts of the yard, and a resistance to deer add to this plant’s appeal.

Add the old fashioned bleeding heart to a shade garden or woodland border. Combining it with other spring bloomers like daffodils creates a fantastic early-season display. Use it with a variety of shade-loving perennials like ferns, hostas, and astilbes. After the bleeding heart enters dormancy in summer, these plants will help to minimize the appearance of any bare spots.

Old Fashioned Bleeding Heart Care

Bleeding hearts prefer a site with full or partial shade. Soil should be well-drained and rich in organic matter. Work compost into the site prior to planting and maintain a mulch layer around the plant. Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer annually after the plant begins to grow each spring. In cooler areas, if the plant is watered and fertilized sufficiently in the spring and early summer, bloom time is extended and the plant will delay entering dormancy. 

Cut the foliage back to the ground after it begins to yellow and collapse, typically once the heat of summer arrives. If you do not want this perennial to seed, snip off spent flower stalks. 

Old Fashioned Bleeding Heart Spacing

The old fashioned bleeding heart has a rounded habit and reaches a height of two to three feet with a similar spread. Space multiple plants about thirty inches apart.