Wild Bleeding Heart

Wild Bleeding Heart is the common name of Dicentra eximia. It is also commonly known as Turkey Corn and Fringed Bleeding Heart, but this name is confusing because it also refers to Luxuriant Bleeding Heart (Dicentra Formosa), which is another popular bleeding heart flower. Dicentra eximia is native to the eastern North America.

It is a shade-loving perennial that has lovely heart-shaped flowers. The flowers are not as showy as those of the Old-Fashioned Bleeding Heart flowers (Lamprocapnos spectabilis, formerly known as Dicentra spectabilis). But, Dicentra eximia has a very long blooming time: it presents its flowers from spring to fall. The color of the flowers is pink.

The blue-green leaves are finely and deeply cut and have a fern-like appearance. The leaves grow only at the base of the plant and the cluster of flowers is hanging from a bare stem.

Dicentra eximia is an excellent garden flower. It spreads readily and covers shady places. It is an excellent filler for the May gap when the spring flowers cease and other garden flowers just start growing! It can be combined with other shade perennials like hostas, ferns or ornamental grasses.

This bleeding heart plant is an excellent plant for a near-natural garden. It attracts many insects like bees and butterflies and also hummingbirds!

Plant Dicentra eximia in shade or part-shade locations in moist, acidic to neutral soil. Keep the soil moist, but not wet. If you care for it well it keeps blooming repeatedly from spring to fall. Deadhead the flowers regularly to promote the growth of more flowers. Mulch the plants during winter.

Propagation: You can propagate this plant by dividing the rootball. Then, you can transplant parts to other areas of your garden. You can also select the seeds when the seedpods are dry on the plant. Bag the seeds and let them germinate in early spring after frost.

Caution: All parts of this plant are poisonous and might cause skin irritation or allergic reaction when handled with bare hands. This is true for all members of the Dicentra family!

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