A lovely perennial called Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba' (Bleeding Heart) is perfect for enlivening a shaded border. It yields graceful, arching wands of pure white, heart-shaped blooms in the late spring that dangle above the fern-like foliage of new green leaves. It typically blooms for 4-6 weeks from late spring to early summer before waning or even going away in the middle of the season. If it is kept well-watered throughout the spring, dormancy could be postponed until the end of the summer or the beginning of the fall. Plant it with other perennials like hosta, astilbe, pulmonaria, or ferns to fill in the gap left by its leaf when it goes dormant. It is great for shaded borders or woodland gardens.
| Plant Type |
Perennials |
| Hardiness Zone |
3-9 |
| Exposure |
Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring, Late Spring, Summer, Early Summer |
| Height | 2' - 4' (ft) |
| Spread | 12" - 18" (in), 18" - 24" (in), 2' - 4' (ft) |
| Spacing |
24" (in) |
| Water Needs |
Average |
| Maintenance |
Low |
| Soil Type |
Chalk, Clay, Loam |
| Soil PH |
Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage |
Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained |
| Characteristics |
Plant of Merit, Showy |
| Tolerance |
Deer, Rabbit |
| Attracts |
Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Garden Uses |
Beds and Borders, Cut Flowers, Underplanting Roses and Shrubs |
Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba' (Bleeding Heart) | Bleeding Heart 'Alba', Dutchman's Breeches 'Alba', Chinaman's Breeches 'Alba', Locks and Keys 'Alba', Lyre Flower 'Alba', Seal Flower 'Alba', Lamprocapnos spectabilis 'Alba'
|| A lovely perennial called Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba' (Bleeding Heart) is perfect for enlivening a shaded border. It yields graceful, arching wands of pure white, heart-shaped blooms in the late spring that dangle above the fern-like foliage of new green leaves. It typically blooms for 4-6 weeks from late spring to early summer before waning or even going away in the middle of the season. If it is kept well-watered throughout the spring, dormancy could be postponed until the end of the summer or the beginning of the fall. Plant it with other perennials like hosta, astilbe, pulmonaria, or ferns to fill in the gap left by its leaf when it goes dormant. It is great for shaded borders or woodland gardens.
Partial Sun,
Spring, Late Spring, Summer, Early Summer,
Average Water Needs, Low Maintenance, Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained,
Plant of Merit, Showy,
Deer Tolerant, Rabbit Tolerant,
Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Beds and Borders, Cut Flowers, Underplanting Roses and Shrubs
