Common Bleeding Heart plant profile
Lamprocapnos spectabilis
A perennial flower for shade.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Common Bleeding Heart
Common bleeding heart is a clumping, spring-blooming shade perennial set out as a plant. NC State says to divide it in fall or spring, so plant in fall or spring when the soil is workable; expect the foliage to yellow and go dormant by midsummer in warm areas.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Common Bleeding Heart in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Shade
- Soil pH
- 6 to 8
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Spacing
- 12 to 36 in apart
- Hardiness
- Zones 3a to 9bFind my hardiness zone
Common problems
Watch for these
Also watch for: rot in wet winter soil.
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Lamprocapnos spectabilis (Bleeding Heart, Old-Fashioned Bleeding Heart)
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (NC State Extension). Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.