Fringed Bleeding Heart

Shade-Loving Native Perennial

The Fringed Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia) is a charming native wildflower prized for its finely divided, fern-like foliage and romantic pink, dangling, heart-shaped blooms. Blooming in waves from mid-spring through fall, this long-blooming perennial is more heat-tolerant than its common cousin (Dicentra spectabilis) and thrives in partial to full shade.

This clump-forming perennial grows 12 to 18 inches tall and wide with a tidy mounded shape. Its soft green, lacy foliage adds texture and lightness beneath the arching flower stems. Clusters of rosy pink, pendant-shaped flowers rise above the leaves in succession, attracting hummingbirds and early pollinators. As a bonus, the foliage often stays lush all summer without going dormant like other bleeding hearts.

Native to the Appalachian Mountains of the Eastern U.S., Fringed Bleeding Heart has long been admired for its delicate appearance and exceptional garden performance. Used by Indigenous groups for medicinal purposes, the Fringed Bleeding Heart is closely related to other Dicentra species like the classic Old-Fashioned Bleeding Heart.

Key Features

• Native woodland perennial with fern-like foliage
• Pink to pinkish-lavender heart-shaped blooms from spring to fall
• Attracts hummingbirds and pollinators
• Deer and rabbit resistant
• Non-toxic and shade-loving

Landscaping Uses

The Fringed Bleeding Heart grows 12 to 18 inches tall and wide, ideal for woodland and shaded gardens. Deer-resistant and pollinator-friendly, its delicate yet tough nature makes it a must-have in understory gardens, shady borders, and native landscapes.

• Shade borders or woodland edges
• Underplanting for shrubs and trees
• Native and pollinator gardens
• Shady rock gardens or slopes
• Containers in shaded patios

Care & Maintenance

This herbaceous perennial is low-maintenance and thrives in shady, woodland-like conditions. It's well-suited to USDA Zones 3 through 9 and adapts well to shady spots with cool, moist, well-drained soils. It may experience summer dormancy in sunnier locations and heatwaves, so learn how to support these tender perennials when they shrink from the sun.

• Planting Time: Spring or early fall
• Sun Requirements: Partial shade to full shade; protect from hot afternoon sun
• Soil Requirements: Prefers humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil; avoid heavy clay and waterlogged sites
• Moisture Needs: Keep evenly moist; use the Finger Test to check soil moisture
• Arborist Mulch: Use a 3-4 inch layer of mulch to conserve moisture and cool roots
• Fertilization Needs: Compost in spring or a balanced slow-release fertilizer; avoid high-nitrogen formulas
• Pruning Info: Remove spent blooms for a neater appearance; trim foliage if it declines in summer or in the fall after frost.
• Division Info: Divide every 3-5 years in early spring or fall to rejuvenate and multiply
• Renewal Pruning: Not needed
• Special Perks/Growing Tips:
• Handles humidity
• Cold-hardy
• Long bloom time,
• No summer dormancy

A Heartfelt Favorite For Shade Gardens

Add some woodland magic with the graceful blooms and feathery foliage of Fringed Bleeding Heart. It delivers color, texture, and pollinator action all season long without fuss. Order your Fringed Bleeding Heart and start enjoying low-light beauty and hummingbird visits today from naturehills.com!