Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Lamprocapnos spectabilis 'Alba'
White Bleeding Heart
- Family
- Papaveraceae
- Height
- 24 to 36 in
- Width
- 24 to 36 in
- Flower color
- Pure white heart shaped blooms on gracefully arching stems
- Foliage color
- Soft blue green finely divided fernlike deciduous leaves
- Bloom time
- Mid to late spring
- Light
- Partial shade to full shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low; allow foliage to die back naturally after flowering
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 3 to 9
- Wildlife
- Bees and other early season pollinators
About this plant
Lamprocapnos spectabilis 'Alba' sends up gracefully arching stems lined with pendent, heart-shaped white flowers that open in mid- to late spring, hovering above finely divided blue-green foliage. Each bloom carries a soft translucence and gentle symmetry that lends a serene presence to shaded borders and woodland plantings during the height of the spring season.
Originating from garden selections of a species native to forested regions of China and the Korean Peninsula, it reflects a long history of cultivation in temperate landscapes. Seasonal flowering followed by summer dormancy allows surrounding plantings to carry the display forward as the year progresses.
Works well in
Borders · Shade Gardens · Woodland Gardens · Pollinator Gardens · Cut Flower Gardens
Companion plants
Epimediums · Hostas · Solomon's seal · Ferns · Lungworts · Wild ginger
Design tip
Spring bloom is its headline moment, and it reads best in a group rather than as a single plant. Cooler light suits it, so tuck it on the north side of a shrub or wall where the soil stays even.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
