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When to Plant Bleeding Hearts in Dewey County, OK

Dewey County, Oklahoma Zone 7a June

What to do in June

June rewards gardeners who work with the weather, not against it. Here's how to stay in step this month in Dewey County, Oklahoma.

Avg. last frost April 13
Avg. first frost October 24
Soil temp (4") 78°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.4 hrs
  1. Time to start bleeding hearts inside

    Label every cell. You will absolutely forget which is which otherwise.

  2. It's harvest week for bleeding hearts

    This is the payoff month. Bring a basket, bring a friend, and get into the beds.

Get ahead of July
  • First harvests: bleeding hearts

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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.

Dewey County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 13 and the first fall frost is October 24, giving you a growing season of approximately 194 days.

At an elevation of 745 feet, Dewey County receives approximately 28.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 93°F, providing good warmth for Bleeding Hearts during the growing season.

Perennial Blooms in Spring Pollinator-friendly Deer-resistant Good for cutting
Dewey County, OK (Zone 7a) Moderate season
194 days
Last Spring Frost April 13
194 growing days
First Fall Frost October 24

Dewey County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Bleeding Hearts Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (104 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 2 Transplant: Apr 13 🌸 Bloom: Jun 1 – Jul 6
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (103 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 9 Transplant: Apr 20 🌸 Bloom: Jun 8 – Jul 13
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (103 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 25 Transplant: May 6 🌸 Bloom: Jun 24 – Jul 29

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Dewey County

How your county's soil matches Bleeding Hearts's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2–7.2) overlaps with Bleeding Hearts's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Dewey County is excellent for Bleeding Hearts — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.2%) — Bleeding Hearts will thrive.

How to Plant Bleeding Hearts

1.5"
Planting Depth
24"
Between Plants
30"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Bleeding Hearts

3
successive plantings in your 194-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 26 to harvest before frost.

Bleeding Hearts Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 794 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Bleeding Hearts

Bleeding Hearts needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Bleeding Hearts Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.3" 1" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Dewey County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Bleeding Hearts Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Bleeding Hearts needs ~1,481 GDD — county provides 3,831 GDD Excellent fit

Bleeding Hearts Planting Timeline — Dewey County, OK

Bleeding Hearts Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 9 Feb 9 – Feb 23
Transplant Outdoors April 20 Apr 20 – May 4
Bloom June 8 Jun 8 – Jul 13

Plant 1.5" deep · 24" apart · Rows 30" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February Start Indoors
March
April Transplant Outdoors
May Transplant Outdoors
June Bloom
July Bloom
August
September
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

194 days in Dewey County

Growing Tips for Bleeding Hearts in Dewey County

Direct sow Bleeding Hearts outdoors after April 13 in Dewey County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Bleeding Hearts in Dewey County, OK?

Dewey County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 13. Plan your Bleeding Hearts planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Dewey County, OK?

Dewey County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 13 and first fall frost is October 24.

🌱

Your Dewey County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Dewey County (Zone 7a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Dewey County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.