Dicentra Growing Guide

Planting Dicentra

  • Plant in spring after the last frost.
  • Keep plants cool until planting and be careful that they do not dry out.
  • Plant in the shade - morning sun is fine, but afternoon sun will be too hot.
  • Add compost or peat humus to enrich and loosen the soil, if needed.
  • Plant so that the crown and roots are completely covered and the tips of dormant eyes are just below the surface.
  • Water thoroughly after planting.

Growing Dicentra

  • Plants thrive in well-drained moist soils with plenty of humus.
  • Grow under shrubs or evergreen trees and protect from strong winds.
  • Once planted the addition of organic mulch will help retain moisture in the soil as well as keeping down the weeds.

Care Dicentra

  • Bleeding hearts are quite drought-resistant once established, but will go dormant in summer if not provided enough moisture.
  • These plants are ideal when planted amid patches of spring-flowering bulbs, as their foliage will obscure the bulb foliage as it dies back.
  • Plants are sensitive to chemicals and heavy fertilizers.

Winterizing Dicentra

  • Foliage should be cut back in the fall.
  • For new plants, provide a winter mulch of evergreen boughs or salt marsh hay after the ground freezes to help prevent heaving.
Dicentra