Luxuriant Bleeding Heart
Luxuriant Bleeding Heart
A Fernleaf Bleeding Heart That Blooms Spring to Fall
Luxuriant Bleeding Heart (Dicentra 'Luxuriant') is the hardest-working bleeding heart for the shade garden. Unlike the classic kind, this fernleaf type keeps its finely cut, blue-green foliage all season and reblooms cherry-pink hearts from late spring well into fall. Compact, tidy, and a hummingbird favorite, it never goes dormant in summer, so it holds the front of a shaded border beautifully in Edina, Woodbury, and Maple Grove.
Luxuriant Bleeding Heart Plant Details
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Dicentra 'Luxuriant' |
| Mature Size | 12–15 in. tall, 12–18 in. wide |
| Hardiness Zone | 3–9 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a — fully hardy) |
| Light | Part shade to full shade; tolerates more sun with moisture |
| Bloom Time | Late spring through fall (reblooming) |
| Flower Color | Cherry-pink hearts |
| Soil | Moist, rich, well-drained; amend clay with compost |
| Winter Hardiness | Reliable to -30°F once established |
| Deer Resistance | Rarely browsed by deer or rabbits |
| Foliage | Finely cut blue-green fern-like leaves; stays through the season |
Landscape Uses in Minnesota
Long-blooming shade edging: Its compact, ferny mound holds the front of a shaded border all season and reblooms for months. Space 14–18 inches apart.
Woodland and pollinator beds: Hummingbirds visit the dangling hearts. Pair with hostas, ferns, and astilbe.
Best Time to Plant in Minnesota
Plant in spring (late April–May) or early fall (late August–mid September) into rich, moist, shaded soil. Keep moist through establishment.
How to Plant Luxuriant Bleeding Heart
Dig a hole twice the root ball width at the same depth, mixing in compost. Set the crown level, backfill, water well, and mulch 2 inches deep. Space 14–18 inches apart.
Watering Luxuriant Bleeding Heart
First year: Keep evenly moist — water every 2–3 days at first, then weekly. Stop 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes.
After year one: Prefers steady moisture for continuous bloom — water during dry spells to keep it flowering.
Q: How is it different from classic bleeding heart?
This fernleaf type stays compact, keeps its foliage all season, and reblooms from late spring into fall instead of finishing in spring and going dormant.
Q: Does it really bloom all season?
Yes — with steady moisture it reblooms for months, especially if you remove spent flowers.
Q: Will it survive a Minnesota winter?
Easily — hardy to zone 3, returning each spring.
Q: Is it deer-resistant?
Yes — deer and rabbits rarely browse it.
You May Also Like
Amore Rose Bleeding Heart (Dicentra): A compact fernleaf type in rose-pink.
Hosta: A bold-leaved shade companion for contrast.
Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium): Silvery fronds that echo the ferny foliage.
How Many Luxuriant Bleeding Heart Do I Need?
This fernleaf type forms a tidy mound 12–18 in wide, so space plants 15 in on center for a continuous shaded edge, or set in groups of 3–5 for a woodland drift. For an edging run at 15 in o.c.:
| Run length | 5 ft | 10 ft | 15 ft | 20 ft |
| Plants (15 in o.c.) | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 |
Luxuriant Bleeding Heart Season-by-Season in Minnesota
- Spring: Finely cut blue-green ferny foliage emerges and the first cherry-pink hearts begin dangling above it.
- Summer: Unlike classic bleeding heart, it never goes dormant — the foliage stays fresh and the hearts keep coming, drawing hummingbirds.
- Fall: Reblooming carries cherry-pink hearts into autumn, especially with deadheading and steady moisture.
- Winter: Foliage dies back to the crown and returns reliably each spring, hardy to -30°F.
At a Glance
✔ Pollinator-Friendly ✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Shade-Tolerant
Plant It With
- Japanese Painted Fern — silvery fronds echo the ferny foliage in the same moist shade.
- Jack Frost Brunnera — silver-veined heart leaves and sky-blue spring flowers layer beautifully beneath it.
- Maggie Daley Astilbe — late-summer purple-pink plumes pick up where the hearts pause.
- Gold Heart Bleeding Heart — golden foliage on a classic type for a bright shade-bed contrast.
Is Luxuriant Bleeding Heart Right for Your Yard?
This is a star of the moist, part-to-full-shade garden — woodland edges, north foundations, and shaded borders with rich soil keep it blooming for months, and deer and rabbits skip it. Not a fit for hot, dry, all-day sun, where the foliage scorches and flowering stalls.