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Fringed bleeding heart

Herbaceous Perennial Flower, Wildflower

Also known as Turkey corn, Wild bleeding heart
Dicentra eximia
Fumariaceae Family

Similar to the familiar bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis), this eastern U.S. native has finer, fern-like, gray-green foliage and flowers later and longer (from early summer peak then sporadically into early fall) if given partial shade and plenty of moisture.

	Site and Plant Characteristics
	Growing Information
	Varieties

Site Characteristics

Sunlight:

part shade

Will tolerate full sun if soil is kept moist.

Soil conditions:

requires well-drained soil
requires high fertility

Prefers moist but well-drained soil.

Hardiness zones:

3 to 9

Plant Traits

Lifecycle: perennial

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 1 to 2 feet

Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet

Bloom time:

late spring
early summer

Peaks in early summer. With adequate moisture, continues sporadically into fall.

Flower color:

red
violet
white
pink

Mostly pink to purple-pink or white.

Foliage color: gray-green

Foliage texture: fine

Shape:

cushion, mound or clump
upright

Stemless, with leaves and flowers arising from roots at the base of the plant.

Shape in flower: flower stalks with flowers hanging downward

Flower stalks are upright, do not arch like common bleeding heart (D. spectabilis).

Special Considerations

Special characteristics:

deer resistant
non-aggressive
non-invasive
native to North America - Forest and mountain areas from New York to Georgia and Tennessee.

Special uses:

cut flowers
wildflowers
naturalistic garden

Growing Information

How to plant:

Propagate by seed, cuttings, division or separation - Fresh seed will germinate easily, but older seed may need to be stratified.
Make root cuttings in summer or fall.
Divide every 3 to 4 years in the early spring.

Maintenance and care:

Keep soil moist but not soggy.
More growing information: How to Grow Perennials

Pests:

Slugs and snails (on new leaves)
Aphids

Diseases:

Downy mildew
Verticillium wilt
Viruses
Rust
Fungal leaf spots

Varieties

'Alba' grows 1.5 feet tall, bears white flowers, and has light green leaves.
'Luxuriant' grows 1 to 1.5 feet tall, bears red flowers in early to midsummer, and tolerates more sun and heat than most bleeding hearts. Probably a hybrid with Pacific bleeing heart (D. formosa).
'Stuart Boothman' ('Boothman Variety') grows 1 to 1.5 feet tall, bears pink flowers, and has blue gray foliage.