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Key characteristics

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

Perennials

Lamprocapnos spectabilis 'Alba'

White Bleeding Heart

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.

Light

Partial shade to full shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Mid to late spring

Find this plant

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.