Description
The bleeding heart is a perennial of the poppy family (Papaveraceae). It comes from China and Japan. The plants reach 60–90 cm in height and produce thick, fleshy, brittle roots. The leaves are grey-green and pinnate.
It flowers at the end of April and in May. The flowers have two inflated outer pink petals forming a heart, from which two narrow, milky-white inner petals protrude, with a small spot at the tip. After flowering the leaves wither and the above-ground part of the plant dies back.
In gardens it is planted in perennial borders, in groups on lawns and in rock gardens. It is also suitable as a cut flower.
Requirements
The bleeding heart needs humus-rich, moist but not too wet soil. The position should be partially shaded – remember that plants grown in strong sun wilt quickly.
Propagation
The bleeding heart is propagated by division, by cuttings or, less often, from seed. For cuttings, take basal shoots that have grown in spring or side shoots in summer. The cuttings should have a heel. Plant them in pots filled with peat compost or compost mixed with peat, and stand the pots in a warm cold frame. When the new roots have filled the pot, plant out in the final position at 25 x 20 cm. The plants set a lot of seed; sow it in a seedbed in autumn and it will come up in spring.
Care
Feed the plants during the growing season.