Wild Bleeding Heart

Dicentra eximia

Family Fumariaceae

Brief Description: Pink irregular shaped flowers with highly dissected foliage; 1.5 to 2 feet tall; up to 3 feet across.

Blooms from May to August.

Geographic Range: Chiefly south Appalachian from North Carolina and Tennessee to West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and south and west New York.

Habitat: Dry or moist mountain woods; rich moist soil on wooded slopes and rocky places.

Propagation: Seed production is continuous throughout the season. If storage is necessary, do not let the seeds dry out; store in damp whole-fiber sphagnum moss in a sealed container and refrigerate. Sow seeds outside and look for seedlings the following spring. Note: seeds will not germinate without a moist cold period of four weeks or more.

Garden Use: Light shade: works well under a canopy of hardwood with filtered light.