Perennials – Sarah Bernhardt

Planting

• 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

• 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.

Taking Care

• 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

• These bulbs are not winter hardy and need to be dug up after the first frost.
• 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.