Valentine® Bleeding Heart (Dicentra)
Perennial
- A scarlet red twist on the classic bleeding heart!
- The perfect addition to woodland gardens.
- Unique heart-shaped blooms steal the show in late spring.
- Zones 3-9, part sun to shade, 2.5' tall and wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
UNABLE TO SHIP TO: CANADA, MD
Description
Its deeply lobed foliage grows to form a tidy and compact clump that provides a great backdrop to its dreamy flowers. Bleeding heart is a delightful addition to mixed perennial gardens. We love pairing them with other woodland garden staples like hostas, astilbe, and ferns that help fill in your flowerbeds as its foliage retreats in mid-summer.
Details
Patent #: USPP 22,739
Common name: Bleeding Heart
Zone: 3 – 9
Sun exposure: Part-sun (4-6 hours sun), Shade (6+ hours sun)
Height x width: 2-3' X 2-3'
Flower color: Scarlet Red
Foliage color: Purple-green to grey-green with red stems
Season of Interest: Spring
Bloom time: Late spring
Features: Rabbit resistant, heat tolerant, deer resistant, container plants, best for beginners
Uses: Shade gardens, border plants, cut flowers, perennial beds, flower gardens, cottage gardens
How to Grow
Light: Grows best in part sun (4-6 hours sun) but can handle full shade (< 4 hours sun). Will have fewer flowers when grown in shade, so part sun is recommended.
Water: Thrives with average moisture. It prefers moist soils that do not dry out during summer but does not tolerate wet soils in winter.
Spacing: 2-3 ft.
Fertilizing: It does not require fertilization in nutrient-rich soils. However, if the soil is low in nutrients, apply a small amount of all-purpose garden fertilizer in the spring.
Winterizing: Cut foliage back in the winter and apply a thin layer of mulch to insulate the roots.
Maintenance & pruning: After the flowers fade, cut the flower stems back to keep the planting looking tidy and promote more blooms.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
