What is a Fringed Bleeding Heart?
Fringed bleeding heart (Dicentra eximia) is native to the eastern United States. It is found naturally throughout forest floors and shaded, rocky out-crops of the Appalachian Mountains. This native variety is also known as wild bleeding heart. They grow best in moist, humus rich soil in full to partially shaded locations. In the wild, fringed bleeding-heart plants will naturalize by self-seeding, but they are not considered to be aggressive or invasive.
Hardy in zones 3 through 9, fringed bleeding heart grows to 1 to 2 feet (31-61 cm.) tall and wide. Plants produce fern-like, blue-green foliage that grows directly from the roots and stays low. This unique foliage is why they are called “fringed” bleeding heart.
The same deep to light pink, heart-shaped flowers can be found, but the stems grow more upright, not arching like Dicentra spectabilis. These flowers put on a spectacular bloom display in spring to early summer too; however, fringed bleeding heart may continue to sporadically bloom throughout summer and early autumn if it is growing in favorable conditions.
How to Grow a Fringed Bleeding Heart
Growing fringed bleeding-heart plants requires a shady to partially shaded location with rich, fertile soil that is moist but well-draining. In sites that stay too wet, fringed bleeding hearts may succumb to fungal diseases and rots, or snail and slug damage. If soil is too dry, plants will be stunted, fail to flower, and will not naturalize.
In the wild, fringed bleeding heart grows best in sites where years of decaying plant debris has made the soil rich and fertile. In gardens, you will need to add compost and regularly fertilize these bleeding heart plants to meet their high nutrient needs.
Caring for bleeding hearts is as simple as planting them in the right site, watering them regularly and providing fertilizer. Slow-release fertilizers for outdoor flowering plants are recommended. Fringed bleeding-heart plants can be divided every three to five years in spring. Due to their toxicity when ingested, they are seldom bothered by deer or rabbits.
‘Luxuriant’ is a very popular variety of fringed bleeding heart with deep pink blooms and a very long bloom period. It will tolerate full sun when watered regularly. ‘Alba’ fringed bleeding heart is a popular variety with white heart-shaped blooms.
Native to the eastern United States, Dicentra eximia (Fringed Bleeding Heart) is a compact, bushy perennial adorned with a ferny, much dissected, gray-green foliage which persists throughout the growing season and does not go summer dormant if given adequate moisture. Blooming freely over a long period extending from early spring to frost, charming clusters of small rose-pink buds open to reveal pale to dark pink, nodding, heart-shaped blossoms which dance gracefully above the lush foliage mound. Flowering will stop in the heat of the summer (particularly in the hotter climates) and may start again in late summer or early fall. A reliable performer, Dicentra eximia resembles the showier Asian Bleeding Heart (D. spectabilis), which is often cultivated in eastern gardens and usually goes dormant by mid-summer. Heat tolerant if planted in rich, moist soil in shade, Dicentra eximia is an excellent choice for southern gardens.
- Grows up to 12-18 in. tall and wide (30-45 cm). Will colonize very slowly by rhizomes and self-seeding.
- Thrives in part shade and is easily grown in fertile, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soils. It is full shade tolerant but be aware that too much shade will result in few flowers.
- Great for shaded beds and borders, rock gardens, woodland gardens, underplanting shrubs or as a ground cover.
- No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for slugs and snails. Deer and rabbit resistant
- Propagate by seed sown immediately or in the spring after a cold-moist period. Can also be increased rapidly by division in fall or early spring.
- Native wildflower of the eastern United States
- All parts cause severe discomfort if eaten.