Plant of the Month April 2025 - Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) (formerly Dicentra spectabilis)
Photo credit: The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
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The Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) is an early spring/summer perennial named for its pink, heart-shaped flowers. It grows well in partial shade and moist, rich soil. It will die back and go dormant in warm weather, or long periods of direct sunlight. Lamprocapnos spectabilis is easily recognized with up to 20 flowers in a row, which grow on arching stems (racemes) when in full bloom. The plant has gained the common name, “Bleeding Heart”, because of the two pink ‘heart-shaped’ outer petals along with two narrow white, inner petals, which descend and resemble drops, giving the plant its common name. It is valued in gardens and floral arrangements. This plant is truly a beautiful addition to any woodland garden, or any garden with the right conditions.
DETAILS: Growing Conditions: Sun: Partial shade, shade Water: Moist, well-drained but not waterlogged Maintenance: Easy once established. Ensure it is in a protected area from wind. Fertilize biannually if soil is poor. Tolerates: Slightly acidic to neutral PH levels in soil with compost and prefers cooler temperatures of 13°-23° Celsius. Zone: 3-9 Description / Characteristics: Height x Spread: 50-120cm tall, 75-120cm wide. Bloom time and description: Spring bloom, pink, white or red heart shaped flowers, up to 20 in a row on arching stems. Leaves are green, tri-lobed that grow on green to pinkish stems. Fruit: Seed pods develop after blooms. Pests & Disease: Aphids, slug and snails will eat foliage. Can be susceptible to powdery mildew and brown spots in high humidity. Propagation: Division, root balls and seeds Special value: Valued for its distinctive flowers in floral arrangements, early spring blooms Toxicity: Toxic to people and pets Common Names: Bleeding heart, Asian bleeding heart, lyre flower, and Lady-in-a-bath Origin: Northeast China | ||
Plant of the Month March 2025 – Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
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Plant of the Month February 2025 – Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
| plant_of_the_month_february_2025__tuliptree.pdf |
Plant of the Month January 2025 – Chinquapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)
| plant_of_the_month_january_2025__chinquapin_oak.pdf |
Plant of The Month December 2024: Ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata)
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Plant of The Month November 2024: Eastern Redbud (Cercis Canadensis)
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Plant of The Month October 2024: Fothergilla Shrub. (Fothergilla gardenii)
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Plant of The Month September 2024: Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium)
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Plant of the Month August 2024: Gray Headed Coneflower/Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)
| plant_of_the_month_august_2024_ratibida_pinnata.pdf |
Plant of the Month June 2024: Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis)
| plant_of_the_month_july_2024_hairy_beardtongue.pdf |
Plant of the Month May 2024: Serviceberry Tree (Amelanchier).
| serviceberry_plant_of_the_month_may_2024.pdf |
Plant of the Month April 2024: Lungwort or Bethlehem Sage/ Pulmonaria sp.
| lungwort_plant_of_the_month_april_2024.pdf |
Plant of The Month March 2024: Ozark witch hazel/Hamamelis vernalis
| march_2024_plant_of_the_month_ozark_witch_hazel.pdf |
Plant of The Month February 2024: Daphne mezereum/February daphne
| plant_of_the_month_feb_2024_daphne_mezereum_.pdf |
Plant of The Month January 2024: Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) Shrub
| red_osier_dogwood_january_2024.pdf |