Bleeding hearts (Dicentra)

A romantic-looking, shade-loving spring-flowering perennial to brighten your garden

- Graham Rice

BLEEDING hearts are mainly spring-flowering hardy perennial plants that are winter hardy in most countries. They are easy to grow, and are colourful without being jazzy. Their flowers are instantly recognisable and come in the shape of pretty heart-shaped lockets.

There are four main kinds of bleeding hearts. By far the largest group are dwarf, shade-loving, North American native wildflowers, often with dainty, silvery-green or blue-green foliage and flowers in red or pink shades, and white. There is also a group of similar varieties that appreciate more sun.

The plants in the small third group are taller and more elegant, and with more dramatic foliage, while a small and rarely seen fourth group of climbing varieties has yellow flowers.

Many make effective ground cover in shade but, in especially hot summers, bleeding hearts tend to fade away and die back after flowering. Neighbouring plants usually spread out into their space during summer. Bleeding hearts can be bought from nurseries and garden centres, with a wide range also available by mail order.

North American natives

Most bleeding hearts are North American native wildflowers that are ideal in the shade garden where their prettily divided foliage sets off the red, pink or white lockets perfectly. Some of these stay neat and compact, making steadily spreading clumps, while some spread more quickly and make good weed-suppressing ground cover without ever becoming invasive.