We are members of the genus Lamprocapnos, though many gardeners still know us by our former name, Dicentra spectabilis. We are herbaceous perennials, meaning our soft stems and foliage die back completely to the ground after our flowering season, and we regenerate from our root systems each spring. Our most defining feature is our heart-shaped flowers, which dangle elegantly from arching, fleshy stems. We thrive in partial to full shade, preferring cool, moist, but well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Our foliage emerges in early spring, and we flower from mid-spring to early summer, after which we often go dormant, especially in warmer climates.
I am the classic species, the archetype from which the popular cultivars have been derived. My flowers are a striking combination of soft pink outer petals and a pure white, protruding inner petal that forms the "drop of blood." My foliage is a soft, grayish-green, which provides a beautiful backdrop that makes the floral display pop. I am a robust plant, typically growing to 2-3 feet in height and spread, forming a handsome, mounding clump. I am the standard against which all other varieties are measured, prized for my timeless elegance and reliable performance in the woodland garden.
I am the pure white form of the common Bleeding Heart. My flowers are entirely a glistening, clean white from the outer petals to the inner drop. This coloration gives me a particularly luminous quality in shady garden spots, where I seem to glow. My foliage is the same soft green as the standard species. I share the same growth habit and cultural requirements, but my monochromatic bloom offers a more subtle, sophisticated, and cooling visual effect. I am exceptionally valuable for brightening deep shade and for moon gardens, and I can sometimes be slightly more tolerant of warmer conditions than my pink cousin.
I am a dramatic cultivar, celebrated not for a change in flower color, but for a radical transformation of my foliage. My flowers are the same vibrant pink and white as the common type. However, my leaves are a brilliant, chartreuse-yellow to golden color that persists throughout my growth cycle. This golden foliage creates an incredible contrast against the pink flowers and provides spectacular visual interest even before and after the blooming period. I brighten shady borders immensely. It is important to note that in full, hot sun, my delicate golden leaves can scorch, so dappled shade is my ideal environment.
Beyond these three, other members of our group offer unique traits. Dicentra formosa and Dicentra eximia (Fern-leaved Bleeding Hearts) are smaller, North American species with finely cut, fern-like foliage that often remains attractive throughout the summer if kept cool and moist. They produce smaller sprays of heart-shaped flowers over a longer period and spread gently by rhizomes to form a ground cover. Cultivars like 'Luxuriant' (cherry red flowers) and 'King of Hearts' (deep pink flowers) are excellent, longer-blooming choices for the garden. There is also a true dwarf variety, Lamprocapnos 'Valentine', which features red flowers with white tips against silvery-gray foliage on a more compact plant.
