Bleeding Heart

About the Bleeding Heart

Their heart-shaped flowers with a dangling droplet are among the most distinctive in the plant kingdom. Native to Siberia, northern China, Korea, and Japan. They are related to poppies. The entire plant is toxic if ingested, containing isoquinoline alkaloids. They go completely dormant in summer heat, disappearing until the next spring. They thrive in shade and cool conditions. Each stem can produce 15-20 flowers. The outer petals form the heart shape, while the inner petals form the droplet. Over 8 species in the genus Dicentra. They have been cultivated in gardens since the 1840s.