From our perspective as a Bleeding Heart plant (*Lamprocapnos spectabilis*), our life is a beautiful, rhythmic dance with the seasons. We are not an evergreen perennial; we are programmed for a cycle of vigorous growth, magnificent flowering, and a necessary period of dormancy. Our foliage is the engine room of our entire existence. Through our leaves, we absorb sunlight and convert it into energy, which we then send down to our roots to store for the future. This stored energy is the sole reason we can burst forth from the earth again after our long winter sleep. Therefore, the timing of any "cutting back" is not arbitrary; it is intrinsically linked to this vital energy-gathering process.
Once our heart-shaped blossoms begin to fade and drop, you might be tempted to tidy us up immediately. Please, be patient. This post-blooming period is arguably the most important phase of our annual cycle. While the flowers were the showstoppers, our large, soft-green leaves are now working overtime. We are performing photosynthesis at a peak rate, diligently creating and sending carbohydrates down to our fleshy roots. This is our time to "eat" and store provisions. Cutting back our foliage now would be akin to someone taking away your dinner plate just as you sat down to eat. It would severely weaken us, resulting in a smaller, less vigorous plant the following spring, as we would have to emerge from dormancy with depleted energy reserves.
We will tell you when we are finished. As the summer heat intensifies, our mission above ground nears completion. You will notice our leaves beginning to yellow and naturally wilt. This is not a sign of disease or distress (provided it's happening in mid to late summer); it is our very clear signal that we are entering dormancy. The energy transfer is complete. The valuable nutrients from the dying foliage are being drawn back into our root system. At this point, the leaves no longer serve a photosynthetic purpose and will eventually wither completely. This is the natural conclusion of our above-ground performance for the year.
The perfect moment for you to help is when our foliage has turned completely yellow or brown and has collapsed. Typically, this occurs in mid to late summer, or early fall, depending on your climate. At this stage, the leaves are easily removed with a gentle tug or can be trimmed back to about an inch or two above the soil line. Cutting us back at this point is not harmful; it is a helpful act of garden hygiene that removes potential hiding places for pests and allows our crown to remain dry and healthy during the wet winter months. It neatly signifies the end of one cycle and the quiet beginning of the next, as we settle in for our rest beneath the soil, full of energy and ready to dance again when the earth warms.
