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    • Photo of Dicentra formosa foliage by Evan Bean

    Photo by Evan Bean

    Used with permission, all rights reserved

    Show all photos

    Dicentra formosa

    Also Known As

    • Woodland Composite

    Plant type

    perennial, bulb / corm / tuber

    size

    • H: 24"
    • W: 24"

    planting zones

    • 4a-9b

    More Options

    Dicentra formosa plant details

    Dicentra formosa is a broadleaf deciduous perennial bulb / corm / tuber with green foliage. In spring pink flowers emerge. Grows well with mostly sun - shade and even moisture - regular water. Does well in average and well-drained soil.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Dicentra formosa

    Plant type: perennial bulb / corm / tuber
    Plant family: papaveraceae
    Foliage: deciduous green
    Mature size: 0 - 24 IN - wide, 0 - 24 IN - tall
    Flowers: pink blooms in spring
    Uses: cutting garden, native plant, naturalizing, woodland garden

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Dicentra formosa

    USDA Zones: 4a - 9b
    Sun exposure: mostly sun - shade
    Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
    Soil needs: average and well-drained

    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    The Pacific or western bleeding heart (Dicentra formosa) is a BC native whose range continues down the west coast to California. It is a lovely shade plant for evenly moist soils with dissected, fern-like foliage and delicate stems of pendulous pink to white heart-shaped flowers. It spreads via underground rhizomes and will usually go dormant by summer. Plant between hosta, ferns and other later-emerging perennials to provide colour in spring before these later perennials get going. Popular with hummingbirds and butterflies.

    By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

    Very similar to its eastern and better-known sister, D.eximia, with foliage so finely divided as to be ferny; showy pink "hearts" on arching stems in spring; as pretty as it is tough. S-PSh/M-D

    By: Forestfarm

    This is a spreading plant with red-pink colored, heart-shaped flowers that arch above green fernlike leaves. Spreads by rhizomes

    By: Greer Gardens Inc.

    Blooms: spring-summer, blue, early emerging, blue-green foliage Zone 4-9. 6"-18", PNW, part shade-shade, moist, well drained

    By: Keeping it Green Nursery

    Gardening facts about Dicentra formosa plant

    How to Grow Dicentra formosa

    • Sun Exposure

      • mostly sun - shade

    • Water Needs

      • even moisture - regular

    • Soil Needs

      • average
      • well-drained

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • green

    • Flower Color

      • pink

    • Flower Season

      • spring

    • Foliage Season

      • deciduous

    See other plant types of Dicentra for your garden

    Lamprocapnos spectabilis 'Gold Heart'

    aka Dicentra Goldheart, Dicentra spectabilis 'Gold Heart', Gold Leaf Bleeding Heart

    Plant Type

    Perennial

    Zones

    2a-9b

    Size

    Height: 2'-3'

    Width: 1'-3'

    • mostly sun - mostly shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Lamprocapnos spectabilis 'Gold Heart' by Karl Gercens III
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    Lamprocapnos spectabilis 'Alba'

    aka Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba', White Old Fashioned Bleeding Heart

    Plant Type

    Perennial

    Zones

    2a-8b

    Size

    Height: 24"

    Width: 20"

    • mostly sun - shade
    • even moisture
    Photo of Lamprocapnos spectabilis 'Alba' flower, foliage by Briggs Plant Propagators
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    Dactylicapnos scandens 'Athens Yellow'

    aka Dicentra scandens 'Athens Yellow', Climbing Yellow Bleeding Heart

    Plant Type

    Perennial, Vine

    Zones

    7b-10b

    Size

    Height: 8'-12'

    Width: 3'-12'

    • mostly sun - mostly shade
    • even moisture
    Photo of Dactylicapnos scandens 'Athens Yellow' form by Dancing Oaks Nursery
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    Dicentra 'King of Hearts'

    aka King of Hearts Bleeding Heart

    Plant Type

    Perennial

    Zones

    3a-9b

    Size

    Height: 8"-12"

    Width: 12"-18"

    • mostly shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Dicentra 'King of Hearts' flower by Panayoti Kelaidis
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    Dicentra formosa 'Bacchanal'

    aka Bacchanal Bleeding Heart, Bacchanal Pacific Bleeding Heart, Bacchanal Western Bleeding Heart

    Plant Type

    Perennial

    Zones

    4a-9b

    Size

    Height: 12"-26"

    Width: 20"-40"

    • mostly shade
    • even moisture - drought tolerant
    Photo of Dicentra formosa 'Bacchanal' flower by Dancing Oaks Nursery
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    +35 more Dicentra
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