Dicentra formosa

Common Names

Western Bleeding Heart, Pacific Bleeding Heart, Wild Bleeding Heart, Common Bleeding Heart, Bleeding Heart

Summary

Dicentra formosa, Pacific bleeding heart, is a native western North American rhizomatous perennial. It features fern-like bluish-green leaves and pendulous heart-shaped flowers in pink (occasionally red or white) on arching stems, growing about 0.1–0.5 m tall with a 0.5–1 m spread, forming clumps. Blooms in spring to early summer and attracts hummingbirds.

Cultivation prefers moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil in part shade, though tolerance of sun increases if soil remains moist; propagate by division in early spring or after leaf drop, or by seed. It self-seeds readily and may be used in cottage and informal gardens, borders, rock gardens, ground cover, or underplanting of shrubs; generally disease-free with slugs and snails as potential pests, and deer and rabbits generally avoid it. Hardy in USDA zones 4–8 and UK H5; suitable for shaded borders and woodland settings.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

4-19.5 inches

Spread

1.5-3.5 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained, humus-rich loamy soil, preferably neutral to slightly alkaline.

Soil Drainage

Moist but well-drained soil.

Soil pH

6.0-7.0, Neutral to slightly alkaline

Bloom Color

Pink

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Blue-green foliage

Fall Foliage Color

Blue-green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow, reaches its ultimate height in 2–5 years.

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, other pollinators, and birds