Carried by 26 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
Western bleeding heart or Pacific bleeding heart (Dicentra formosa) is a perennial in the Poppy family, commonly found in moist wooded areas from California to British Columbia. The plant features clusters of drooping, heart-shaped pink and white blooms on leafless stems, emerging from delicate, fern-like leaves.
This plant self-seeds readily and spreads quickly through its underground root system. After flowering in spring, it often goes dormant for the summer, then re-emerges and flowers again in autumn. It prefers shade in warmer areas and more sun in cooler regions of its range.
Western bleeding heart is well-suited for shady, moist garden environments, often used as a groundcover or in woodland settings. It provides visual interest with its distinctive heart-shaped blooms and delicate foliage, offering an attractive addition to a variety of garden designs. It also attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Perennial herb
8 - 19 in Tall
3 ft Wide
Upright
Fast
Winter Deciduous
Red, Purple, Pink, White
Summer, Spring
Deer resistant, Lawn alternative
Full Sun, Partial Shade, Deep Shade
Moderate, High
Max 3x / month once established
Tolerates cold to 5° F
Medium
Prefers rich, well drained soil.
Soil PH: 5.0 - 8.0
Divisions of the rootstock. For propagating by seed: 3 mos. stratification.
1, 4*, 5*, 6, 7*, 8, 9, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 18*, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*
Moist places, typically forest or woodland
Northern Oak Woodland, Oak Woodland, Red Fir Forest, Yellow Pine Forest
Trees - Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa), Tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus), Madrone (Arbutus menziesii), Oak (Quercus spp.), Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), Dogwood (Cornus spp.)
Other Plants - Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum spp.), Deer Fern (Blechnum spicant), Horsetail (Equisetum spp.), Polypody Fern (Polypodium spp.), Sword Fern (Polystichum spp.), Meadow Rue (Thalicturm species), Yerba Buena (Clinopodium douglasii), Western Columbine (Aquilegia formosa), Monkeyflower (Mimulus cardinalis or guttatus)
Butterflies and moths supported
1 confirmed and 0 likely
Clodius Parnassian
Parnassius clodius