Bleeding Hearts are native to Northern China, Korea, Manchuria and Japan and were introduced into English gardens in about 1847. They grow in woods and deep shady valleys. In the garden give them moist but well-drained soil in partial shade. They flower from May to July in the wild but usually only bloom in spring in gardens. Arching stems to 60 cm tall.
Usual form is pink to red with white inner petals , although 'Alba' is pure white.
Hardy to -20 degrees celsius and below. The recent addition of Dicentra spectabilis 'Gold Heart' has brought foliage effects into the breeding of Dicentras. This is a lovely plant, but as the website linked to suggests, is very new and only sparsely available in many areas. Children delight in pulling the flowers apart and giving names to them based on their shape. Such observations include rabbits in the outer red petals, a harp, a pair of glasses, and a bottle - the pistil in the centre.