Lamprocapnos

( lam - pro - KAP - nos )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of plants includes just one species which is commonly known as Asian Bleeding Heart or simply Bleeding Heart. It was previously known as a species of the other Bleeding Heart genus, Dicentra, as Dicentra spectabilis. These plants are native to northeastern China as well as the Korean Peninsula, and cultivated worldwide for their pendulous inflorescences of heart-shaped blooms and beautiful, herbaceous foliage. Bleeding Hearts thrive in shady conditions, and do well in mixed beds and borders, or large containers. Take care when planting these in the landscape, as all plant parts are toxic to humans and pets if ingested. Contact with plant parts can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.

Lamprocapnos Species and Varietals

Lamprocapnos, or Bleeding Heart, is a member of the plant family Papaveraceae, making them relatives of Poppies and Corydalis. It is a monotypic genus, containing just one species, Lamprocapnos spectabilis. There are The best growing zones for Lamprocapnos are USDA hardiness zones 3a - 9b. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Lamprocapnos spectabilis (Dicentra spectabilis) (Asian Bleeding Heart, Bleeding Heart, Lady-In-A-Bath, Heart Flower, Lyre Flower. Locks and Keys, Chinaman's Breeches, Dutchman's Breeches, Showy Bleeding Heart, Seal Flower, Old-Fashioned Bleeding Heart, Purse Peony)
This is the sole species in the genus Lamprocapnos, and was once a member of the genus Dicentra. It has a large native range in northeastern Asia, including Japan, Russia, and Siberia. Plants typically reach 48 inches tall and 18 inches wide, and have an upright habit with pendulous branches. Foliage is green in the straight species, which has pink and white flowers. There are four main cultivars of this species, with differently-colored flowers and foliage.

'Alba'

'Gold Heart'

'Ruby Gold'

'Valentine' ('Hordival')

Caring for Lamprocapnos

Take care when planting these in the landscape, as all plant parts are toxic to humans and pets if ingested. Contact with plant parts can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals. Plant your Lamprocapnos, or Bleeding Heart plant, in a space in the landscape that receives partial shade during the day. They can handle full shade, but will flower best when in partial sun. During the warmest hours of the day, ensure that Bleeding Heart plants get some shade to avoid damaging leaves. They should be placed in a protected spot in the garden, as well, as strong winds can damage plants. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 6.5 (acidic). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a 1-2 inch layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain soil temperatures, and increase soil moisture retention. Water newly planted Bleeding Hearts regularly to help them establish a strong root system. At maturity, these plants appreciate consistently moist but well-draining soils. Waterlogged soils can lead to root rot problems.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with a application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Prune off spent flower inflorescences when they fade to improve the appearance of the plant (unless you will be collecting seed for propagation). No major pruning is required for Bleeding Heart plants, but dead or damaged foliage can be trimmed back if desired. These plants can survive for 2 to 5 years in the garden before needing to be replaced. They will slowly form clumps, providing new plants for the landscape indefinitely.

Propagation

Lamprocapnos can be propagated either by using cuttings, by dividing existing plants, or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting or division methods. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Bleeding Heart plant, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Lamprocapnos by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) peat moss and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new plant.

Propagating Lamprocapnos by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) peat moss and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
Harvest your seeds. The seed pods are pretty easy to spot, they dangle from the branches, left behind after flowers have faded, and look a bit like small bean pods. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 30 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Lamprocapnos by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil, compost, and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in spring or fall (after the plant has entered dormancy and been cut to the ground, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every four to five years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Dawn your protective gear and gather your materials. Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the tuber roots. Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick tuberous section.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divided tubers about an inch under the soil surface and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout!