Dicentra spectabilis, as the bleeding heart is called in Latin, is a perennial native to Northeast Asia with spectacular flowers, which also gave the plant its name. The outer, pink-red petals have a distinctive heart shape, and underneath there are the hanging white, teardrop-shaped inner flowers. The splendor of the flowers can be admired almost all summer long.
When does the Bleeding Heart bloom?
The bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) blooms between May and August, although the flowering period can be extended by regularly removing dead shoots. The hybrid “Candy Hearts” blooms from March to October.
Flowering period between May and August
The bleeding heart is traditionally a symbol of unrequited or fleeting love. The pure white variety “Alba” is also often planted on grave sites as a symbolic plant. The flowers are arranged like pearls on a necklace on the relatively fleshy stems, which are up to 120 centimeters high and gently bend under the weight. The flower-bearing shoots develop in the months of April to May, and from around mid-May the bleeding heart shows its splendor of flowers until August. The hybrid “Candy Hearts” blooms particularly long, tirelessly developing small, pink flowers between March and October.
Tip
Cut off dead shoots regularly to stimulate the formation of new flowers and thus extend the flowering period.
