Bleeding Hearts Planting Guide

June

Your June guide to bleeding hearts

bleeding hearts rewards gardeners who pay attention to a few basics. Here's what matters in June, wherever you're growing.

Sun partial shade

Water moderate

Days to harvest 60–90

Plant depth 1.5″

Spacing 24″

How to water bleeding hearts
About an inch of water a week keeps bleeding hearts happy. Check your weather forecast before watering — skip if rain is coming.
Where to put bleeding hearts
bleeding hearts wants at least 6 hours of direct sun. Less than that and you'll get leggy plants with weak yields.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant bleeding hearts. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Pick your county for exact bleeding hearts timing →

Bleeding Hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) are elegant woodland perennials producing arching stems hung with distinctive heart-shaped pink or white flowers with protruding inner petals — the "drops" beneath each heart. A beloved heirloom perennial from Asia, bleeding hearts emerge vigorously in spring, bloom prolifically for 4–6 weeks, and then go dormant in summer heat — a natural die-back that is entirely normal. The dormancy gap should be planned for by interplanting with summer-emerging hostas, ferns, or impatiens. Fringed bleeding heart (Dicentra eximia), a US native, has a longer bloom season and does not go fully dormant. All parts are toxic if ingested.

Lamprocapnos spectabilis · Flower · Papaveraceae family · 60–90 days to maturity

Perennial Blooms in Spring Pollinator-friendly Deer-resistant Good for cutting

Why it matters: If you're just starting a flower garden in your area, Bleeding Hearts is a forgiving first pick. It tolerates imperfect soil, mild drought, and the occasional missed watering. The reward: weeks (sometimes months) of continuous color.

Get Your Personalized Bleeding Hearts Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Bleeding Hearts?

Zone Compatibility for Bleeding Hearts Zones 3a – 9a

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Bloom
Zone 3a	Mar 6	—	May 29	Jul 24 – Sep 4
Zone 3b	Mar 1	—	May 24	Jul 19 – Aug 30
Zone 4a	Feb 25	—	May 20	Jul 15 – Aug 26
Zone 4b	Feb 20	—	May 15	Jul 10 – Aug 21
Zone 5a	Feb 21	—	May 9	Jul 4 – Aug 15
Zone 5b	Feb 14	—	May 2	Jun 27 – Aug 8
Zone 6a	Feb 6	—	Apr 17	Jun 12 – Jul 17
Zone 6b	Jan 30	—	Apr 10	Jun 5 – Jul 10
Zone 7a	Jan 21	—	Apr 1	May 20 – Jun 24
Zone 7b	Jan 14	—	Mar 25	May 13 – Jun 17
Zone 8a	Jan 11	—	Mar 8	Apr 26 – May 24
Zone 8b	Dec 31	—	Feb 25	Apr 15 – May 13
Zone 9a	Dec 16	—	Jan 27	Mar 17 – Apr 7

Why are some columns showing "—"?

Direct Sow shows "—" because Bleeding Hearts benefits from being started indoors first, then transplanted after the last frost.

How to Plant Bleeding Hearts

1.5"

Planting Depth

24"

Between Plants

30"

Between Rows

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.

🧪 Soil pH

6 – 7

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 3a – 9a

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.

👪 Plant Family

Papaveraceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Papaveraceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Bleeding Hearts

Bleeding Hearts matures in just 60–90 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 3 successive plantings by sowing every 6.9 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Bleeding Hearts

✅ Good Companions

Hostas Ferns Columbine Astilbe Hellebores

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Bleeding Hearts

Plant bare-root crowns in early spring as soon as soil is workable, or in fall at least 6 weeks before hard freeze. Set eyes 1–2 inches below soil level. Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal; deep shade is tolerated but reduces bloom. Keep moist but well-drained — will not tolerate waterlogged soil. After flowering, the foliage will yellow and die back in summer heat — this is normal. Do not cut back until foliage turns fully yellow; the plant is storing energy. Mark the location to avoid disturbing crowns during summer dormancy. Divide every 4–5 years in early spring. Year 2+ plants produce the fullest flowering display.

Saving Bleeding Hearts Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

Save a lifetime of seed money →

Bleeding Hearts by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Bleeding Hearts?

Bleeding Hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) takes 60 to 90 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Bleeding Hearts grow in?

Bleeding Hearts can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 9a. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Bleeding Hearts need?

Growing Bleeding Hearts requires Partial Shade (3-6 hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 6 to 7.