How Do I Grow Bleeding Heart Plants?
Bleeding hearts are herbaceous, perennial shrubs. They grow in full or partial shade and well draining, rich, damp soil. Bleeding heart is the common name for members of the genus Dicentra. There are eight species in the dicentra genus, the most common being Decentra spectabilis. Decentra spectabilis are large, pink-and-white bleeding hearts commonly grown in urban planters and gardens. Bleeding hearts bloom in the spring and begin to die back as summer heats up. New growth emerges from the underground root system in the next years growing season. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Compost or humus-rich soil
- Garden fork
- Water
- Planting pot
- Potting soil
- Peat moss
Instructions
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Planting Bleeding Hearts Outside
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1
Spread a 2-inch layer of rich compost or humus over the planting area. Work the organic matter 6 inches deep in the soil using a garden fork. Select an area that gets full or partial shade throughout the day.
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2
Dig a hole in the soil large enough to accommodate the root ball of the bleeding heart plant. Slide the plant out of the nursery pot and place the root ball in the prepared hole. Fill in the soil under and around the roots patting it down as you go.
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3
Soak the soil around the bleeding hearts when the top feels dry to the touch. Apply water on a soak setting until the soil is damp to a depth of 3 or 4 inches. Keep the soil moist but not saturated. Bleeding hearts like a damp environment but will die if the roots sit in water.
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4
Cut back the foliage in the fall. Use a sharp pair of pruning shears and clip off all the old growth an inch from the ground. Be careful not do damage any early shoots emerging from the roots.
Planting Bleeding Hearts in Pots
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Select an 8- to 12-inch pot for an individual plant. Or plant bleeding hearts in a long trough planter or with other plants in a large planter. Clay, wood, plastic or metal pots are appropriate as long as there are drainage holes in the bottom.
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6
Spread a 1-inch layer of coarse gravel on the bottom of the pot to improve drainage and stop the potting soil from draining away from the bottom.
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7
Half-fill the pot with a mixture of equal parts compost, peat and potting soil to create a rich, well-draining soil medium. Slide the plant out of the nursery pot and place it in the center of the planting pot. Fill in under and around the root ball until the plant is sitting in the pot with the base of the stem 1 inch below the lip of the pot.
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8
Apply water until it seeps from the drainage holes. Place the bleeding hearts in a shaded area of the garden or porch. Water when the top of the soil begins to feel dry to the touch. Soak the soil completely at each watering. Cut back the dead foliage in the fall.
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Tips & Warnings
Bleeding hearts are hardy in USDA planting zones 3 through 9.
Nurseries and garden stores sell bleeding hearts in the early spring just as they are coming into bloom. Look for healthy plants with the first hint of flowers emerging.
In the Pacific Northwest there is a native bleeding heart (Dicentra formosa) that grows wild in woodland areas.
References
- Photo Credit wet bleeding heart 02 image by Michael Cornelius from Fotolia.com
