Japanese Bleeding Heart Lamprocapnos spectabilis
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Dicentra spectabilis
- Fumaria spectabilis
- Phonetic Spelling
- lam-pro-KAP-nos spek-TAB-il-iss.
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
The bleeding heart is an erect, spring to early summer-blooming, herbaceous perennial that reaches a height and width of 2 to 3 feet. It grows in loose clumps or mounds and has delicate arching branches that are tipped with pink to white heart-shaped flowers. The green fern-like foliage is divided into 3 leaflets. By mid-summer, the leaves decline, turn yellow, and drop after blooming has ended. Adequate water may extend the time the leaves remain on the plant. While this plant goes dormant during the summer in warm areas, it can be forced to flower on Valentine's Day by bringing dormant rhizomes into a cool greenhouse in late winter.
Bleeding hearts are native to Siberia, Japan, Northern China, and Korea. They are typically found in moist grasslands or shady forests.
The specific epithet, spectabilis, means spectacular or showy. The common name is derived from the exerted inner petals "bleeding" from the outer heart-shaped petals. This plant is a member of the Papaveraceae family.
This plant grows best in the morning sun with afternoon shade and is tolerant to heavy and partial shade. It will also tolerate full sun provided that it is in a cool moist climate. The soil needs to be neutral to alkaline, moist, well-drained, and rich humus soil. It can tolerate both clay and sand. Propagate this plant through seeds or divide them in the fall or spring.
The native to eastern North America, Dicentra eximia, or fringed bleeding heart, has a longer blooming period and fine-textured leaves. Dicentra formosa or western bleeding heart is native to the northwest United States.
Consider the bleeding heart for a cutting or woodland garden, a shade border, or use it as a filler plant. Think about the space this plant will leave as it declines in the summer months. Combine the bleeding heart with other plants such as ferns and hostas that will be thriving as the bleeding heart goes dormant.
Seasons of Interest:
Bloom: Spring to Early Summer Foliage: Spring to Early Summer
Quick ID Hints:
- clumping or mounding herbaceous perennial
- Biternately compound leaves
- green, coarsely lobed or toothed leaflets
- flowers are raceme-like with 7 to 15 blooms that have heart-shaped petals with a reflexed apical lobe
- fruit is an oblong capsule fruit with 2 to 8 seeds
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems though aphids are occasional visitors. Slugs may also feed on the leaves. It is intolerant to wet soils in the winter and dry soils during the summer. All parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested. The foliage may cause dermatitis; therefore, gloves and other protective equipment are suggested when handling this plant.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy, and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
White blooms, tolerate of summer heat - 'Gold Heart'
bright greenish golden foliage, rose pink heart-shaped flowers
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Gold Heart'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
White blooms, tolerate of summer heat - 'Gold Heart'
bright greenish golden foliage, rose pink heart-shaped flowers
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Gold Heart'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lamprocapnos
- Species:
- spectabilis
- Family:
- Papaveraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Siberia, Japan, Northern China, and Korea
- Distribution:
- Introduced: Czechoslovakia, Great Britain, Sweden, Uzbekistan, and the United States
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Colorful
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Mounding
- Maintenance:
- Low
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is an oblong, 25 to 35 mm, capsule, and it contains 2 to 8 black, rounded, smooth seeds. Fruits are produced from April to June.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- The inflorescences are raceme-like with 7 to 15 flowers per pendulous raceme, bracts subulate, and heart-shaped in outline. Two sepals are inconspicuous, and four petals are in opposite pairs with the outer petals rose-red, pink to white, inner white petals usually have red and yellow markings and have tongue-shaped with convex inner faces and crested tips. They bloom from April to June depending on the climate.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cuneate
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, biternately compound; leaflets ovate, coarsely lobed or toothed, acute, cuneate; cauline leaves few, simple with lanceolate lobes. The leaves are green on the upper surface, and the undersides of the leaf are glaucous.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The stems are thick, juicy, and 23 to 36 inches long. The petiole is 2 to 4.5 inches long.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Trembling, staggering, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, and labored breathing. Skin irritation after repeated contact.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Contains isoquinolone alkaloids.
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems