Greetings, curious cultivator. I am the spirit of the woodland, the Lamprocapnos spectabilis, though you know me better as the Bleeding Heart. You wish to know my secrets, to coax new life from the tiny, sleeping vessels that are my seeds. It is a path of patience, but a rewarding one. From my perspective, this is the journey you must undertake.
First, you must understand our nature. My seeds are not impatient like those of quick-sprouting annuals. We carry a deep, inherited memory of the cold forest floor from which we originate. Our shells are hard, and our embryos sleep a deep sleep, a state you call dormancy. This is a protective measure, ensuring we do not sprout during a brief warm spell in autumn, only to be killed by the winter's genuine frost. To wake us, you must mimic the natural cycle of winter passing into spring. This process is called cold stratification, and it is non-negotiable for our successful germination.
To begin, you must collect or acquire my fresh, black seeds. Older, dried seeds are far more stubborn. Place us in a handful of barely damp (not wet) sand or a moist paper towel inside a sealed plastic bag. The medium should feel like a wrung-out sponge—too much water will cause us to rot, not awaken. Then, you must place this bag in the cold darkness of your refrigeration's main compartment for approximately 4 to 6 weeks. This chilly, damp period convinces us that winter has settled upon the land. It softens our hard coats and signals to the life inside that it is safe to begin stirring when warmth returns.
Once the stratification period is complete, you can introduce us to soil. Prepare a tray or pots with a fine, well-draining potting mix. We are delicate at this stage. Plant us about 1/4 inch deep and gently water the soil, settling it around us. Place our containers in a location with bright, indirect light and maintain a steady, room-temperature warmth (around 65-75°F or 18-24°C). This warmth is the signal we have been waiting for—the first true days of spring. Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy. With the combination of cold followed by warmth, you should see the first signs of life, the emergence of cotyledons (seed leaves), within 3 to 4 weeks.
When we emerge, we are fragile. Our first true leaves will be delicate and unlike our distinctive mature foliage. Handle us by our leaves, never our tender stems, if you must transplant us. We require consistent moisture and protection from strong, direct sun, which can scorch us. As we grow stronger and develop several sets of true leaves, you can begin to harden us off, gradually acclimating us to outdoor conditions before our final planting.
Choose our final home in your garden with care. We crave the dappled sunlight of the forest edge—a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal. The soil should be rich, humusy, and moist but well-draining. Plant us at the same depth we were growing in our pots, spacing us about 18 to 24 inches apart to allow our mature forms to arch gracefully. Water us in well to settle the soil around our roots. With patience, the first season will see us establish ourselves, and in the following spring, we will reward you with our first pendulous, heart-shaped flowers.
