Bleeding Heart Plants

Bleeding Heart Plants are so romantic! The unique flowers have a unique shape that resemble a bleeding heart… oh my, who hasn’t ever had a bleeding heart in life? Bittersweet love…

In this article I include the following bleeding heart plants:

- Old-Fashioned Bleeding Heart
- Genus Dicentra that includes eight species.
- Bleeding Heart Vine

The Old-Fashioned Bleeding Heart flower (Lyre Flower) used to belong to the genus Dicentra but was moved to the genus Lamprocapnos and in the family Papaveraceae (Poppy family) yet, they both belong to the Order Ranunculales. The scientific species name changed from Dicentra spectabilis to Lamprocapnos spectabilis. Old Fashioned Bleeding Hearts are native to eastern Asia. Dicentra species are all native to North America (except Dicentra peregrina). All of them are shade loving perennial plants.

Bleeding Heart Vine (Glory Bower; Clerodendrum thomsoniae) is another bleeding heart plant. Yet botanically, it is a completely different plant. It is a tropical flower native to West Africa.

The genus Dicentra includes eight species. Some of them are quite popular garden bleeding heart plants. There are also several Dicentra hybrids and cultivars. The Luxuriant Bleeding Heart is a well-liked one.

Dicentra cucullaria (Dutchman's Breeches) and Dicentra eximia (Wild Bleeding Heart, Fringed Bleeding Heart) are popular garden species. They are both native to North America.

Dicentra canadensis is commonly known as Squirrel Corn. It is native to eastern North America. This plant has white flowers and finely cut leaves. It likes to grow in moist woods (hardwood to mixed forest). This is a very rare plant and law in several States protects it.

Dicentra formosa is commonly known as Western Bleeding Heart and Pacific Bleeding Heart. It is native to western North America from California to British Columbia. It grows in moist forests. The leaves are finely dissected and flowers are red, pink or white.

Dicentra nevadensis is commonly known as Sierra Bleeding Heart and Tulare County Bleeding Heart. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada Region (central California). The flowers are white, pink or yellow-brown. The leaves are finely cut.

Dicentra pauciflora is commonly known as Shorthorn Steer's Head and Few Flowered Bleeding Heart. It is native to the States of Oregon and California. This is a dwarfish flower: it only grows about 10 centimeters (4 inches) tall. The flowers are light pink.

Dicentra peregrina is commonly known as Komakusa (a Japanese Name). It is native to northeastern Siberia, Kamchatka and Japan. The flowers are purple to white. This species has been crossed with Dicentra eximia and Dicentra nevadensis. The hybrids are lovely, ornamental plants that are widely planted in gardens.

Dicentra uniflora is commonly known as Longhorn Steer's Head. It is native to the western United States. The flowers are pink to white. The only grow up to 10 centimeters (4 inches) in height, like Dicentra pauciflora.

Return from Bleeding Heart Plants to Homepage