by Jennifer Poindexter
I was taking prom pictures with one of my children a few weeks ago and stumbled across a beautifully landscaped location.
The main thing that stood out to me was their bleeding hearts shrub. If you’ve ever seen a bleeding heart, you know it.
This plant is unique due to its blooms resembling tiny hearts. This is why bleeding hearts dicentra is a great choice for an eye-catching plant for your landscape.
Don’t worry if you don’t know how to plant or care for this shrub. I’ve got you covered. Here’s everything you should know when growing bleeding hearts dicentra:
Growing Conditions for Bleeding Hearts Dicentra
Bleeding hearts dicentra are interesting plants to grow. To begin, there are three different varieties of this plant.
The first option is dicentra spectabilis. This is the original version of the plant which produces arching branches and heart-shaped blooms. It blooms in the spring, and the foliage dies back after blooming is complete.
The next variety is dicentra formosa. What sets it apart is its foliage as it resembles that of a fern. This type of bleeding heart dicentra will bloom in the early portion of summer. After the blooming is complete, the foliage of the plant will remain.
Our final variety is dicentra eximia. It’s known as a “fringe” bleeding heart because the foliage appears fringed. This variety blooms in the summer and will continue to do so periodically throughout the season.
Regardless of the variety you choose, bleeding hearts dicentra are hardy in planting zones three through nine and are perennials.
Bleeding hearts dicentra enjoy shady growing locations. They’re excellent for rock gardens and for use as ground cover.
They also grow well alongside hostas, begonias, and ferns, as they all have similar growing conditions.
The main things to consider are the soil, light, and temperatures. As previously mentioned, bleeding hearts dicentra enjoy partial shade. They grow best when the temperatures are between 55- and 75-degrees Fahrenheit.
If the temperatures go above this, the foliage of the plant might turn yellow. Though this plant requires specific temperatures to thrive, it isn’t bothered by humidity.
Also, bleeding hearts must be planted in well-draining soil that remains evenly damp. If the soil doesn’t drain adequately, it can lead to problems with disease which we’ll discuss further a little later in the article.
You should also ensure you have enough room in your growing location as some varieties will only grow to be a half foot in height. Yet, other varieties can become as tall as three feet.
Even if you don’t have a great inground growing location, bleeding hearts dicentra also grow well in containers.
Ensure the container is, at minimum, a twelve-inch planter. This will ensure the plant has enough room to grow and thrive.
By providing adequate growing conditions, you should be able to enjoy unique pink, red, or white blooms from the bleeding hearts shrub. This should certainly spice up any growing area and add natural beauty to your surroundings.
How to Grow Bleeding Hearts Dicentra
There are multiple ways to grow bleeding hearts dicentra. We’re going to cover quite a few of them. You have the option of growing this shrub from a bareroot, a purchased plant, from division, from a cutting, or from seed.
Let’s start from the top. Should you purchase a bareroot, it can only be planted while it’s still dormant. Should you purchase a potted plant, you may plant it anytime during the growing season.
Regardless of what type of purchased plant you have, they’ll be planted pretty much the same. The only difference will be the time of planting.
For either of these types of plants, dig a hole that’s approximately eight-inches deep. It should be large enough to contain the roots of the plant. Be sure to amend the soil prior to planting.
When ready, you’ll want the crown to sit one-inch beneath the soil level. Backfill the hole and water the plant deeply.
If you’re planting multiple shrubs at once, ensure you provide two feet of space between each plant. You may be able to get by with a little less space between plants should you choose a smaller variety.
The next way to grow bleeding hearts dicentra is from seed. This process is a little more in depth. To begin, you must place the seeds in your freezer for two months.
In doing so, you’re performing a task known as seed stratification. The process tricks the seeds into thinking they have gone through a dormant period in winter. This sends a message that it’s time for the seeds to sprout once removed from the cold climate.
After this process has taken place, start your seeds indoors. Transplant hardened off seedlings outdoors, during spring, after the final frost has occurred.
Should you wish to skip the seed stratification process, and starting seeds indoors, the easiest way to grow bleeding hearts from seed is to sow them directly in the growing location during late summer or early fall. Water the seeds regularly until the first frost arrives.
At this point, stop applying water and let the seeds be over winter. They’ll go through a cold cycle outdoors and germinate in the spring. Be patient when growing this shrub from seed, as they may not bloom for at least two years after planting.
Next, you may grow bleeding hearts dicentra from a division of a mature plant. These plants need to be divided from time to time to keep them healthy and thriving.
After the plant has finished flowering, dig up the shrub. Use a spade to divide the plant, in multiple places, from tip to root.
Then transplant the new divisions as you would any other established shrub.
The next method for growing bleeding hearts dicentra is from a cutting. Remove a four- to five-inch cutting of a mature bleeding hearts bush.
Dip the cutting in rooting hormone, and plant it in a pot filled with well-draining soil. Water the cutting and wrap the container in plastic wrap. This creates a greenhouse effect.
Be sure the soil doesn’t fully dry out while waiting. If the plastic bag forms condensation, create a small opening to provide better airflow for the cutting. Also, ensure the cutting is stored in a warm location such as indoors or a greenhouse.
The cutting should form roots in approximately one month. Once the plant is established, transplant it to a permanent growing location.
Our final method for growing a bleeding hearts plant is in a container. For this method, begin with an established plant.
Fill the container with well-draining soil, and dig a hole large enough to support the shrub’s root system. Backfill the hole, and ensure you meet all the necessary growing conditions.
The main thing to remember when growing a bleeding hearts shrub in a container is it should be divided and repotted every five years.
You now have multiple ways to grow bleeding hearts dicentra. Pick the method that works best for you, and try your hand at adding this plant to your landscape.
Caring for Bleeding Hearts Dicentra
There are a few things you must do to properly care for bleeding hearts dicentra. In some ways these plants are extremely low-maintenance.
However, be sure to meet the needs the plants do have since they are so few. To begin, be sure to mulch around your bleeding hearts bushes.
This not only helps to suppress weeds, but it also assists the plants in retaining necessary moisture.
Also, be sure to water your bleeding hearts plants deeply as this will help them to become stronger and avoid oversaturation.
As discussed above, there are different types of bleeding hearts dicentra. These varieties bloom at different times.
Therefore, you may have bare spots in your landscaping if the foliage dies back after blooming. This is a good place to plant summer annuals to ensure there are no bare spots in your landscaping.
Also, be mindful of where you plant bleeding hearts dicentra. These plants are toxic to both humans and pets if consumed. You don’t want to place them anywhere that someone might accidentally munch on them.
Fertilizing this plant is the only tricky part of raising it. In most cases, bleeding hearts shouldn’t be fertilized.
If you plant in quality soil, you should only need to add a fresh layer of compost each spring. This should give the plant the boost of nutrients it needs to bloom, but since bleeding hearts aren’t heavy feeders, they shouldn’t require much more.
Should you plant in less than ideal soil, you may add a slow-release fertilizer each spring. This should give the plant what it needs.
Finally, you won’t need to prune or deadhead these shrubs. After frost arrives in the fall, remove any dead foliage.
From there, add a layer of mulch to protect the roots over the colder months. These are the steps you should take when caring for bleeding hearts dicentra.
Garden Pests and Diseases for Bleeding Hearts Dicentra
Our final stop on this tour of growing bleeding hearts is to learn how to protect the plants from common enemies in the garden.
The most common pests to impact bleeding hearts are slugs, snails, scales, and aphids. All of these pests can be treated with an insecticide, but be sure to treat them at the first sign of an issue to minimize damage to your plant.
The most common issues with disease are fungal based diseases such as root rot, leaf spot, and powdery mildew.
You may treat powdery mildew and leaf spot with a fungicide. If your plants are experiencing root rot, they’re in oversaturated conditions.
It’s best to transplant them into an area with well-draining soil to ensure they aren’t left in an oversaturated state.
These are the most common threats bleeding hearts dicentra may face in a growing location. Utilize these tips to ensure you don’t lose your plants to these common problems.
You now know how to grow, care for, and protect bleeding hearts dicentra. Hopefully, you feel better equipped to take on the task of growing this plant.
There’s no doubt these shrubs provide plenty of curb appeal wherever they’re planted. Now, choose the best growing method for your set-up, and the proper variety, to add this beautiful plant to your surroundings.
More About Bleeding Hearts Dicentra
http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene9f1f.html
https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/resource-library/plant-week/bleedingheart-2-27-09.aspx
Leave a Reply