The traditional pink and white flowered variety is the most common, but there are some variations.
This early spring perennial flower hails from Japan, but made its first appearance in the United States in the 1800s as a Valentine's Day gift.
Its red, pink, or white colored flowers hang down from three- to four-foot-tall plants from cascading branches.
The flower shape is a dead giveaway to its common name, bleeding hearts.
Dicentra spectabilis appears in early spring as soon as the ground thaws. We might be seeing it pop up in March in some warmer areas with our mild winter!
The grassy foliage quickly grows into a floppy plant loaded with heart-shaped flowers. The colorful flowers appear to have a trickle of blood dripping out the bottom, hence the common name.
The traditional, large-sized pink and white flowered bleeding heart is the most common, but there are some variations.
Alba is a white hearted version. Golden Heart features golden leaves and red flowers. Fringed bleeding heart has deeply cut, fern-like leaves on small, one foot tall plant with delicate, small flowers.
Bleeding hearts are hardy, tough plants. They grow best in part shade in cool, moist, fertile soil. They can last for many years in the garden and can be divided in early spring when they first pop out of the ground.
Bleeding heart flowers last for a few weeks depending on how quickly it gets warm. Then the plant slowly yellows and dies by mid summer. I usually cut them to the ground at this point.
Plant bleeding hearts where other summer perennials, such a daylilies and bee balm, can over take them come June and hide the dying foliage.
Next week on the Connecticut Garden Journal, I'll be talking about heirloom lettuce. Until then, I'll be seeing you in the garden.
