Lamprocapnos Species, Old-fashioned Bleeding Heart, Lady-in-a-Bath, Lady's Locket

Lamprocapnosspectabilis

Family
Papaveraceae (pa-pav-er-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Lamprocapnos (lam-pro-KAP-nos)
Species
spectabilis (speck-TAB-ih-liss)
Synonym
Dicentra spectabilis
Cyanaeorchis spectabilis
Corydalis spectabilis
Diclytra spectabilis
Dielytra spectabilis
Sun Exposure
Spacing
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Hardiness
Bloom Color
Bloom Time
Other Details
Water Requirements
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
Patent Information
Propagation Methods
Seed Collecting
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Birmingham, Alabama

Jasper, Alabama

Montevallo, Alabama

Anchorage, Alaska

Seward, Alaska

Phoenix, Arizona

Bay, Arkansas

Hot Springs Village, Arkansas

Malvern, Arkansas

Castro Valley, California

Citrus Heights, California

Elk Grove, California

Fremont, California

Hayward, California

Lake Forest, California

Lompoc, California

Merced, California

Oak View, California

San Leandro, California

Santa Cruz, California

Clifton, Colorado

Colorado City, Colorado

Colorado Springs, Colorado(2 reports)

Denver, Colorado

Erie, Colorado

Fort Collins, Colorado

Littleton, Colorado

Pueblo, Colorado

Severance, Colorado

Centerbrook, Connecticut

Danielson, Connecticut

Glastonbury, Connecticut

Madison, Connecticut

Meriden, Connecticut

Milford, Connecticut

Old Lyme, Connecticut

Oxford, Connecticut

Winsted, Connecticut

Fort Lauderdale, Florida(2 reports)

Fountain, Florida

Lutz, Florida

Melrose, Florida

Ocala, Florida

Atlanta, Georgia

Nicholson, Georgia

Stone Mountain, Georgia

Boise, Idaho

Soda Springs, Idaho

Victor, Idaho

Belleville, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois(3 reports)

Collinsville, Illinois

Des Plaines, Illinois

Hampton, Illinois

Hinsdale, Illinois

Machesney Park, Illinois

Oak Lawn, Illinois

Palatine, Illinois

Rockford, Illinois

Washington, Illinois

Wauconda, Illinois

Waukegan, Illinois

Austin, Indiana

Bloomington, Indiana

Greenfield, Indiana

Hammond, Indiana

Indianapolis, Indiana

Logansport, Indiana

Middlebury, Indiana

Nashville, Indiana

Noblesville, Indiana

Clarion, Iowa

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Inwood, Iowa

Iowa Falls, Iowa

Nichols, Iowa

Urbandale, Iowa

Olathe, Kansas

Shawnee Mission, Kansas

Wichita, Kansas

Corbin, Kentucky

Ewing, Kentucky

Georgetown, Kentucky

Hebron, Kentucky

Henderson, Kentucky

Lancaster, Kentucky

Abbeville, Louisiana

Broussard, Louisiana

Deridder, Louisiana

Hammond, Louisiana

Prairieville, Louisiana

Biddeford, Maine

Durham, Maine

Litchfield, Maine

South China, Maine

Adamstown, Maryland

Cumberland, Maryland

Lanham, Maryland

Lusby, Maryland

Pikesville, Maryland

Rockville, Maryland

Silver Spring, Maryland

Valley Lee, Maryland

Amherst, Massachusetts

Bridgewater, Massachusetts

Clinton, Massachusetts

Dracut, Massachusetts

Halifax, Massachusetts

Needham, Massachusetts(2 reports)

New Bedford, Massachusetts

North Billerica, Massachusetts

Reading, Massachusetts

Roslindale, Massachusetts

Saugus, Massachusetts

Sterling, Massachusetts

Winchester, Massachusetts

Worcester, Massachusetts

Wrentham, Massachusetts

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Detroit, Michigan

Eastpointe, Michigan

Galesburg, Michigan

Grand Blanc, Michigan

Mason, Michigan

Novi, Michigan

Owosso, Michigan

Pinconning, Michigan

Plymouth, Michigan

Royal Oak, Michigan

Saint Clair Shores, Michigan

Braham, Minnesota

Buffalo, Minnesota(2 reports)

Circle Pines, Minnesota

Hamel, Minnesota

Isle, Minnesota

Lake Elmo, Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota(4 reports)

New Prague, Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Greenville, Mississippi

Olive Branch, Mississippi

Brunswick, Missouri

Piedmont, Missouri

Bozeman, Montana

Cut Bank, Montana

Helena, Montana

Omaha, Nebraska

Reno, Nevada

Sparks, Nevada

Auburn, New Hampshire

Berlin, New Hampshire

Brookline, New Hampshire

Franklin, New Hampshire

Hooksett, New Hampshire

Merrimack, New Hampshire

Munsonville, New Hampshire

Plaistow, New Hampshire

Asbury, New Jersey

Brick, New Jersey

Denville, New Jersey

Far Hills, New Jersey

Forked River, New Jersey

Freehold, New Jersey

Jersey City, New Jersey

Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey

Millville, New Jersey

Morristown, New Jersey

Neptune, New Jersey

Las Cruces, New Mexico

Alden, New York

Binghamton, New York

Brooklyn, New York

Cooperstown, New York

Crown Point, New York

Elba, New York

Himrod, New York

Kingston, New York

Mechanicville, New York

New York City, New York

Niagara Falls, New York

Penn Yan, New York

Saratoga Springs, New York

Schenectady, New York

Southold, New York

Windsor, New York

Asheville, North Carolina

Brevard, North Carolina

Burgaw, North Carolina

Clayton, North Carolina

Clemmons, North Carolina

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Hillsborough, North Carolina

Lucama, North Carolina

Raleigh, North Carolina(2 reports)

Belfield, North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

Medora, North Dakota

Bucyrus, Ohio

Cincinnati, Ohio

Columbus, Ohio

Dayton, Ohio

Dublin, Ohio

Glouster, Ohio

Hamilton, Ohio

Reynoldsburg, Ohio

Swanton, Ohio

Westerville, Ohio

Enid, Oklahoma

Greater Sudbury, Ontario

Blodgett, Oregon

Gresham, Oregon

Klamath Falls, Oregon

Lake Oswego, Oregon

Portland, Oregon(8 reports)

Silverton, Oregon

Springfield, Oregon

Tillamook, Oregon

Vernonia, Oregon

Allentown, Pennsylvania

Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania

Coal Center, Pennsylvania

Dover, Pennsylvania

Emmaus, Pennsylvania

Friedens, Pennsylvania

Greencastle, Pennsylvania

Hershey, Pennsylvania

Lansdowne, Pennsylvania

New Kensington, Pennsylvania

Norristown, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania

Sayre, Pennsylvania

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Vandergrift, Pennsylvania

Hope Valley, Rhode Island

Summerville, South Carolina

Belle Fourche, South Dakota

Camp Crook, South Dakota

Crossville, Tennessee

Hendersonville, Tennessee

Knoxville, Tennessee

Lafayette, Tennessee

Lenoir City, Tennessee

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Austin, Texas

Cypress, Texas

Desoto, Texas

Fort Worth, Texas

Gilmer, Texas

Lipan, Texas

Mc Kinney, Texas

Nome, Texas

Pipe Creek, Texas

San Antonio, Texas

Santo, Texas

Magna, Utah

Ogden, Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah(2 reports)

Tremonton, Utah

Big Stone Gap, Virginia

Chantilly, Virginia

Coeburn, Virginia

Falls Church, Virginia

Fancy Gap, Virginia

Lexington, Virginia

Mechanicsville, Virginia

Springfield, Virginia

Woodbridge, Virginia

Anacortes, Washington

Bremerton, Washington

Chewelah, Washington

College Place, Washington

Langley, Washington

Olympia, Washington

Orchards, Washington

Puyallup, Washington

Sammamish, Washington

Seattle, Washington

Spokane, Washington

Stanwood, Washington

Vancouver, Washington

Great Cacapon, West Virginia

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Appleton, Wisconsin

Balsam Lake, Wisconsin

Ellsworth, Wisconsin

Kendall, Wisconsin

Marinette, Wisconsin

Mauston, Wisconsin

Merrimac, Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Mosinee, Wisconsin

Pewaukee, Wisconsin

Spooner, Wisconsin

Superior, Wisconsin

Verona, Wisconsin

Watertown, Wisconsin

Cody, Wyoming

Ranchester, Wyoming

Sheridan, Wyoming

Thayne, Wyoming

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

58
positives
9
neutrals
7
negatives
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I
| September 2017 | positive

I'm from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada - Zone 5.
I have clay soil.

I love Old-fashioned bleeding heart (formerly calle...Read More

A
(Zone 6b) | February 2016 | positive

Lamprocapnos spectabilis is for shure a favorite plant in my spring garden. It blooms for three month here in Austria

Z
Clayton, NC | May 2015 | positive

This is one of my favorite plants for a shady spot. Even after the flowers are finished, I think the plant's form and foliage are still ...Read More

W
Allentown, PA | March 2015 | positive

I received a specimen of Dicentra in a plant swap from a young mother whose colony of bleeding hearts was rampantly spreading. It had no...Read More

C
ROSLINDALE, MA | November 2014 | positive

A fantastic perennial for deciduous shade in the north. Generally goes dormant when the weather gets hot, though in moist shade in the no...Read More

M
M
Sterling, MA | May 2013 | positive

I absolutely love this plant! The only problem I have is planting them from bulb form. The fleshy roots tend to be very brittle and I fin...Read More

M
Sudbury , ON (Zone 4b) | April 2012 | positive

Very successful plants here! I have a white, a pink & a red! All do well, they are in mostly shade with some light morning sun. The pink ...Read More

G
Shawnee Mission, KS (Zone 5a) | February 2012 | positive

does amazingly well on the northeast side of my house in Kansas. My dicentra is about 2 ft. in diameter and blooms 2x a year, spring then...Read More

M
Hershey, PA (Zone 6a) | May 2010 | positive

We have one in almost complete shade on a slope surrounded by pachysandra and do nothing for it. It has flourished with our benign negle...Read More

Q
Q
Binghamton, NY (Zone 5b) | April 2010 | positive

My favorite shade plant, Bleeding Hearts are an elegant "must-have" for the northern gardener.

My mum has two enormous Bl...Read More

P
Belleair, FL (Zone 9b) | February 2010 | positive

It took us a while to find just the right spot for our bleeding heart - a cutting from friends in Boca Raton. Once we planted two specim...Read More

B
Cedarhome, WA (Zone 8b) | October 2009 | positive

All agree this is a spectacular plant, but some have problems growing it. I have had good luck in the Pacific Northwest, and allow our n...Read More

N
N
Hot Springs Village, AR (Zone 7b) | June 2009 | neutral

I ordered 2 from SpringHillNursery.com and planted them next to each other in a shady area (zone 7b). One came up nicely and the other, n...Read More

K
Watertown, WI (Zone 5a) | April 2009 | positive

My trick to keeping dicentra spectabilis looking decent year-round (at least in northern climates) is to cut it back hard after it blooms...Read More

L
Dover, PA (Zone 6a) | April 2009 | positive

I love bleeding hearts. They add color to my shady spots. I have 3 of these...2 pink and 1 white. The one pink I've had for 3 years an...Read More

E
(Zone 10a) | October 2008 | negative

A beautiful plant, but doesn' t really flourish in the mild winters of Athens (i think it needs cold frosty winters like Peonies).
...Read More

R
| July 2008 | positive

I bought a 2 gallon pot this spring, and the plant grew so well in my partially shady, zone 5 location that I have had to cut it back twi...Read More

L
Central, AL (Zone 7b) | May 2008 | negative

I too have tried this beautiful plants in my garden multiple times. I finally resolved, the summer heat is too much for these beauties.

M
Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4a) | May 2008 | positive

I would say this plant is difficult for a beginner - many may die because of bad locations or not watering it regularly but a few will s...Read More

M
Braham, MN (Zone 3b) | May 2008 | positive

I planted two of these wonderful plants in my front shade garden - one in 2006 and one in 2007. They are both thriving and have bloomed w...Read More

D
New Bedford, MA | April 2008 | positive

Well to start out with,I have three of these plants 1- Pink & 2- white ones. I've had them for 6 yrs and all are doing well.The 2 in the ...Read More

O
Enid, OK (Zone 7a) | April 2008 | neutral

This is the 3rd year for this plant and each prior year, I thought it died. However, each spring it comes back bigger and stronger. No ...Read More

S
Hooksett, NH | April 2008 | positive

Plated in shady area, though that they weren't doing well because of the conditions and just replanted in my backyard. Didn't think that ...Read More

R
Lanoka Harbor, NJ (Zone 7a) | March 2008 | positive

I first saw this plant at a friends house and fell in love with it, that was in zone 7A.
I purchased some for my zone 7A for my fr...Read More

K
Pipe Creek, TX | February 2008 | positive

I bought a huge bare root bleeding heart from easytogrowbulbs.com and I planted it about a month ago. Now it is blooming already! It is ...Read More

J
Belleville, IL | December 2007 | positive

I bought 2 of bleeding heart vines last spring. Kept them in pots in a partial-shaded area and both did very well with growth but they d...Read More

M
Winsted, CT | October 2007 | neutral

Its a lovely flower but the foliage goes dormant in summer, here in northern CT by mid june- its completely died down to the ground.
...Read More

M
M
Colorado Springs, CO (Zone 5b) | September 2007 | neutral

I just bought this plant, a dormant root, and placed it in my new shade garden underneath a large elm. That was in August - I know that i...Read More

A
Augusta, GA (Zone 8a) | August 2007 | negative

In Augusta, Georgia, I have tried with three plants. One is barely surviving, no blooms. I think it doesn't take heat well -- certainly...Read More

O
Oak View, CA | July 2007 | positive

It is early July in southern California and my lovely plant has been sleeping since May. I surely do hope that it is a sleeping beauty a...Read More

G
G
Georgetown, KY (Zone 6a) | June 2007 | positive

When I was a little girl the house up the street from us had a bleeding heart plant and I thought it was the most beautiful thing in the ...Read More

L
Buffalo, MN | June 2007 | neutral

Lightning bug in Rockford, MN

I bought one of each color three years ago and they are still the same size and they've onl...Read More

D
West Valley City, UT (Zone 6b) | June 2007 | positive

My dicentras are as happy as clams at high tide, despite the non-acidic, nitrogen-poor soil and their continued exposure to the herbicide...Read More

S
New Kensington, PA | May 2007 | positive

I have a sunless wet corner where the house and the addition meet. I picked up this plant as an afterthought because they said it would g...Read More

B
Chicago, IL (Zone 6a) | May 2007 | positive

Well, the same, everybody has to add: Not too much shade, not too much sun, a little bit of a diva.... When established, keep weeds or ot...Read More

B
Bay Area, CA (Zone 9b) | March 2007 | positive

Die back to the ground in the summer heat. Sprouted back, blooms first, no foliage whatsoever at the end of winter/early spring, the foli...Read More

J
| December 2006 | positive

Grows well in Newfoundland, Canada,

M
Hebron, KY | November 2006 | positive

I love it! I've been growing Bleeding Heart (Pink variety) for many years. I've been growing the White one for several years. I let th...Read More

S
Lancaster, KY | August 2006 | positive

This is a lovely, interesting plant. As one other person noted, I too have had it die back completely in summer, especially during droug...Read More

M
Far Hills, NJ | August 2006 | positive

My 92 year old neighbor just had her yard landscaped. 2 bleeding hearts were installed and have begun to look peakish and yellow. I hea...Read More

S
S
Reading, MA | July 2006 | positive

I have about 30 of these plants in my yard. I have noticed the white variety stands up to summer heat a lot better than the old fashione...Read More

S
Naperville, IL | June 2006 | positive

I have a bleeding heart planted in a shady garden right under a tree. It puts on a spectacular show in the spring and is a sight for sor...Read More

S
(GayLynn) Appleton, WI (Zone 5a) | May 2006 | positive

Planted this little beauty in a shady spot in my backyard last year. It grew beautifully and blossomed then something chewed through the...Read More

J
J
Portland, OR (Zone 8a) | May 2006 | neutral

This puts on a big, dramatic show from April to June here and it is amazing and beautiful, BUT it spreads like crazy and after it is done...Read More

B
Sammamish, WA | May 2006 | positive

I remember my grandmother growing this plant in her
Spokane, WA garden, she even potted them and grew them as a house plant in a s...Read More

P
P
Moncks Corner, SC (Zone 8b) | May 2006 | positive

Success on my seventh attempt to grow this plant! I grow them in memory of my grandmother, who could always make things grow just by look...Read More

T
T
Plaistow, NH | May 2006 | positive

This plant was one of the first perrenial that I planted next to my bench when I moved to my home 11 years ago. It is absolutely stunnin...Read More

H
Annandale, NJ (Zone 6b) | May 2006 | negative

This is a beautiful plant in May...but looks really ratty in August. That hasn't stopped me from keeping them because they are one of th...Read More

S
Austin, IN (Zone 7b) | May 2006 | positive

I have found that this plant grows in my area (southern Indiana) much better if it has more shade then sun. I planted it once in part sha...Read More

M
Worcester, MA | April 2006 | positive

I transplanted 2 small, spindly bleeding hearts from a friend's shady back yard here in Worcester, MA, where they were growing more or le...Read More

J
Pleasant City, OH | April 2006 | positive

I bought one last spring at a small store, and brought it home and planted in a shady spot on my bank in the shade, behind a heartshaped ...Read More

G
New York, NY (Zone 7a) | April 2006 | positive

I live in New York City and have a very small garden in the back of the building. In the shady nooks of my garden where nothing else has...Read More

Q
Q
Olive Branch, MS (Zone 7b) | March 2006 | negative

Purchased 2 plants last spring and planted in my semi-shade garden. Lost both plants and do not know what the problem was, not a lot of ...Read More

B
Nichols, IA (Zone 5a) | March 2006 | positive

This is my absolute favorite spring bloomer. Mine is planted on the north side of a garage so it gets enough water running off the roof t...Read More

R
Walkerton, VA (Zone 7a) | January 2006 | positive

The may be the easiest perrenial I've ever grown. I planted two cuttings in an Azalea bed, and I haven't done anything else except water ...Read More

G
(Zone 5a) | January 2006 | positive

I love bleeding hearts. The flowers look more like a little girl's charm necklace than a real, living plant. It is just so fascinating....Read More

A
Dutton, AL (Zone 7a) | November 2005 | negative

I love this plant, but have tried 3 different plants in 3 separate locations and can't grow it. A lot of plants are listed that they will...Read More

L
| June 2005 | neutral

Very impressive while it's with you- as one other poster said they can get to be about 4 feet across- but they do leave an awful hole in ...Read More

S
Dublin, OH (Zone 5b) | May 2005 | positive

I would recommend spacing them farther than is listed. Once established, these can have a lateral spread of 4' or more, and mine are crow...Read More

N
Sparks, NV (Zone 7a) | May 2005 | positive

In my area, this plant grows well in shade and moist soil.

C
Henderson, KY | May 2005 | positive

After having this plant die back last year, we thought for sure that it wouldn't come back this year. Well, lo and behold, it came back ...Read More

H
H
Castro Valley, CA (Zone 9a) | July 2004 | positive

I planted one in February, did quite well, quite large, can't wait for next early spring. Another just came up last month, waiting to see...Read More

M
| April 2004 | positive

I have two bleeding hearts growing on the south side of my house, under the shade of a big pine tree. I bought them 2 years ago from a lo...Read More

H
H
San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) | September 2003 | negative

San Antonio, TX
I have attempted to grow this plant 2 different years with no luck. After trying everything to please it, I gave u...Read More

S
Bend, OR (Zone 6a) | August 2003 | positive

Dicentra (from the Greek words dis, meaning “two”, and kentros, meaning “spurs”) are spring blooming. Generally, the cooler the ...Read More

V
Springfield, VA | August 2003 | neutral

This is a lovely plant that I planted in a border that receives nice mid-morning sun and shade the rest of the day. It loves the locatio...Read More

S
S
Centerbrook, CT | August 2003 | positive

If you plan to move this plant be certain to get ALL of its brittle, fleshy roots. I must have missed a piece (thought I had checked care...Read More

C
Oakville, ON (Zone 5b) | June 2003 | positive

Grows well in my shade garden. Plant is currently 3 years old and about 2.5 ft tall by approximately 6 ft wide. Will divide next spring.

A
Danielson, CT | June 2003 | positive

This plant grows in my garden under medium to heavy shade in well-drained, composted soil. It seems to thrive there, but dies back when ...Read More

M
M
mh
| May 2003 | positive

I have had success with this plant in a full sun location, in sandy soil, by keeping the soil moist at all times.

C
| April 2003 | positive

I don't know much about this flower. I live in Washington State, and it was in my backyard when I moved in. It is beautiful, and I wasn't...Read More

L
Grove City, OH (Zone 6a) | January 2003 | positive

Drought sends this plant into early dormancy; prolonged wet soil makes it die. Best in that infamous "moist, well-drained soil".
...Read More

W
Seward, AK (Zone 3b) | August 2002 | positive

Bleeding Heart, grows well in cool climate in Southcentral Alaska. The shoots start to pop up through the mulch sometime in April, and we...Read More

J
J
MD &, VA (Zone 7b) | November 2000 | neutral

Grows 24" to 36" high, and 18" to 24" spread. Flowers are heart shaped and usually pink, although there are white, red, purple, and yello...Read More

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