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Asian Bleeding-Heart
Lamprocapnos spectabilis
Easy · Beginner friendlyAbout Asian Bleeding-Heart
Old-Fashioned Bleeding Heart is a beloved Asian shade perennial that produces rows of dangling heart-shaped pink flowers with protruding white inner petals on arching 30-inch stems in spring. The ferny blue-green foliage goes dormant in summer heat but returns faithfully each year. A quintessential American grandmother's garden plant and a top symbol of cottage-garden romance.
- Shade-tolerant
- Deer-resistant
How to care for Asian Bleeding-Heart
Watering
- Springevery 5 days
- Summerevery 7 days
- Fallevery 14 days
- Winterevery 30 days
Soil · Well-draining
- Top dressingPine bark mulch10%
- Main mixPotting soil + perlite 2:170%
- DrainageLECA / gravel20%
Never skip the drainage layer — standing water is the top cause of root rot.
FERTILIZER
Balanced Feed 14-14-14
An even feed covers all three needs at once, keeping leaves, roots and blooms moving together with nothing pushed out of balance.
- Nitrogen · Leaves
- Phosphorus · Roots + Blooms
- Potassium · Strength
- Springevery 30 days
At a Glance
- NativeEast Asia
- Height2–3 ft (0.6–0.9 m)
- Spread1.5–2.5 ft (0.5–0.8 m)
- Flower colorPink, White
- Foliage colorGreen, Blue-green, Yellow
- SoilLoamy, Moisture-retentive, Rich
- LocationsYard
Bloom time
BLOOM CYCLE
Peak bloom
Apr–Jun
Rows of dangling pink hearts April to June
Fragrance
LIGHT FRAGRANCE
The flowers have a lightly sweet-scented scent.
Toxicity
Humans Moderate · Pets Moderate
isoquinoline alkaloids and protopine
Moderate
- All
- Ingestion
- Contact
EXPOSURE Eating any part of the plant. Touching any part of the plant.
EFFECT Skin irritation and vomiting if ingested in quantity.
NOTE Documented concern for humans: Skin irritation and vomiting if ingested in quantity.
Moderate
- Root
- Leaf
- Ingestion
EXPOSURE Eating roots and leaves.
EFFECT Tremors, seizures, staggering, and vomiting.
NOTE ASPCA lists Dicentra species as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Can cause neurological signs in pets.
Moderate
- Root
- Leaf
- Ingestion
EXPOSURE Eating roots and leaves.
EFFECT Tremors, seizures, staggering, and vomiting.
NOTE ASPCA lists Dicentra species as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Can cause neurological signs in pets.
Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.
DISTRIBUTION
- Native
- Introduced
- East Asia
History
Lamprocapnos spectabilis grows wild in moist deciduous woodlands of northern China, Korea, and the Russian Far East. The plant was introduced to Western horticulture in 1846 by Robert Fortune, who collected it on a Chinese expedition funded by the Horticultural Society of London. It caused a sensation when shown at a Chiswick flower show; nurseries could not propagate it fast enough.
By the 1850s it was one of the most widely planted Victorian cottage perennials in England and America. Linnaeus-era botanists placed it in Dicentra, but a 1997 molecular study by Lidén revived the genus Lamprocapnos of Endlicher (1850), making the accepted name Lamprocapnos spectabilis. Cultivars include 'Alba' (white), 'Gold Heart' (gold foliage, 1998), and 'Valentine'. Native to Siberia, northern China, Korea, and Japan.
Symbolism & meaning
What It Symbolizes
Asian Bleeding-Heart can symbolize love's longing through its arching stems hung with pink heart-shaped flowers, each tipped with a small white drop. Another layer is cottage romance, for it is one of the iconic plants of old-fashioned gardens, threaded through countless grandmothers' borders. Few flowers so directly translate emotion into form: in lamprocapnos, the heart is not just symbolized but visibly suspended, slightly bowed, as if love itself were leaning toward whatever it most wants.
- Love's longing — heart-shaped flowers dripping with tenderness
- Cottage romance — iconic symbol of old-fashioned gardens
Where the Name Comes From
'Lamprocapnos' from Greek 'lampros-kapnos' meaning shining-smoke; 'spectabilis' from Latin means showy or spectacular.
Uses & Fun Facts
- Bleeding heart thrives in moist woodland shade
- Pink locket flowers dangle along arching stems
Related plants
Plants with similar care
Red BuckeyeAesculus pavia
Blue BugleAjuga genevensis
Pyramidal BugleAjuga pyramidalis
Carpet BugleAjuga reptans
Frequently asked questions
How often should I water Asian Bleeding-Heart?
In summer, water about every 7 days; in winter, about every 30 days. Adjust for heat, pot size and drainage.
How much light does Asian Bleeding-Heart need?
Part shade: 2–4 hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.
Is Asian Bleeding-Heart toxic to cats or dogs?
Pets Moderate (Dogs Moderate · Cats Moderate) Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.
Is Asian Bleeding-Heart easy to grow?
Yes — it is considered an easy, beginner-friendly plant.
When does Asian Bleeding-Heart bloom?
It typically blooms Apr–Jun in the Northern Hemisphere.
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