East facing, north facing, south facing, west facing
Position in border:
Front, middle
Shade type:
Damp
Soil
Prefers rich soil:
Acidic / Chalky / Alkaline / Clay / Heavy / Moist / Well Drained / Light / Sandy
Lamprocapnos spectabilis
Formerly known as Dicentra spectablilis, bleeding heart, Lamprocapnos spectabilis, is a Chinese plant bearing pink-red, heart-shaped flowers with white tips, which hang from arching flower stems in late spring to early summer. Although it grows in light shade and looks good growing in clumps amongst shrubs, it often does even better in a sunny border, provided the soil stays sufficiently moist.
Clumps of Lamprocapnos spectabilis remain compact for many years and do not need dividing, fortunately, because they have brittle roots and do not like disturbance – instead, try taking root cuttings in spring. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Plant calendar
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Plant
yes
yes
yes
yes
Flowers
yes
yes
yes
Divide
yes
yes
yes
Take cuttings
yes
yes
Lamprocapnos and wildlife
Lamprocapnos has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
