Northwest Blooms · Groundcovers
Dicentra formosa ‘Sulphur Hearts’
Sulphur Hearts Bleeding Heart
- Family
- Papaveraceae
- Height
- 12 to 18 in
- Width
- 18 to 24 in
- Flower color
- Pale sulfur yellow to creamy yellow with rosy pink inner petals
- Foliage color
- Soft blue-green to gray-green, finely divided fernlike leaves
- Bloom time
- Mid spring through early summer
- Light
- Partial shade to full shade
- Water
- Moderate moisture
- Maintenance
- Low, remove spent flower stems to encourage continued blooming; cut back foliage if it declines in summer heat
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 5 to 9
- Wildlife
- Bees, hummingbirds
About this plant
Dicentra formosa 'Sulphur Hearts' produces graceful sprays of heart-shaped flowers in soft sulphur yellow, accented by rosy pink inner petals that extend below each bloom. The flowers dangle from gently arching stems above finely divided blue-green foliage, creating an airy, fernlike texture that remains attractive through the growing season.
Blooming from mid-spring into early summer, this cultivar originates from a selected form of the western North American species. It performs beautifully in woodland gardens, shaded borders, and naturalized plantings, where the luminous flowers mingle easily with spring bulbs and ferns, bringing gentle color and movement to cool, sheltered landscapes.
Works well in
Woodland Gardens · Under Trees · Native Gardens · Pollinator Gardens
Companion plants
Blechnums · Omphalodes · Epimediums · Foamflowers · Brunneras · Maianthemums
Design tip
Thread this selection through shaded planting beds in small, repeating groups rather than a single large mass. The scattered drifts create a gentle rhythm that leads the eye naturally through woodland gardens while preserving an informal, relaxed character.
