Bleeding Heart

Bleeding Heart Dicentra formosa – Pacific Bleeding Heart is one of my favorite North West native plants. The Pacific Bleeding Heart can be found primarily in coastal areas in moist wooded ravines and along streams from low to mid elevations. This beauty of a plant grows all through coastal BC, moister areas of Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon and Northern California.

Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest continue to hold knowledge of Dicentra formosa as part of living plant traditions. The Skagit and neighboring nations hold knowledge of Dicentra formosa root preparations, historically including decoctions for intestinal worms and fresh root for toothache; today the plant is recognized as toxic and is treated with caution for any internal or external use.

The rather exotic looking fringed foliage appears in early spring followed by the distinctive heart shaped pink flowers as beautiful as any cultivated variety and very attractive to hummingbirds and bees. They bloom over a longer period of time than most cultivated types and can reach up to 18 inches in height.

This hardy perennial will spread slowly from Rhizomes and is a lovely addition to the shade garden. Very drought-tolerant once established. Prefers shade or part shade, hardy to Zones 3-9.