Garden Notes

Old fashioned bleeding heart blooming happily in shade garden

When I was small, Bleeding Heart (Dicentra) was one of my favorite flowers. When Mom occasionally let us pick small bouquets to bring into the house, I always chose bleeding heart. I remember mixing them with another spring favorite, lily of the valley because they both bloomed at the same time and to this day I still love the fragrance and the delicate look of those same flowers in a bud vase.

When we moved to our present home, I planted a few bleeding heart plants as a tribute to my mom who had passed away. I love the attractive foliage and how they bloom each spring with with arching branches that have all the grace and color that I remember from Mom’s garden.

Bleeding heart plants seem to do best in partial to full shade and they like moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter so I apply a bit of compost each spring to my plants. I also add a thin layer of mulch to retain moisture and water during the summer if it is really dry. All my bleeding heart plants bloom in spring and while some garden research said that they may rebloom sporadically in summer and fall if the weather is cool, that has never happened in my garden.

Since bleeding heart foliage can die back after the plants are finished blooming, I have them planted with hostas that fill in any open spots. Then in fall, after the first frost, I cut back any remaining foliage.

Garden tips

Bleeding hearts are traditional favorites that work well in shade gardens. They can make beautiful specimen plants in spring, are remarkably easy to grow and are deer resistant.