Use & Care NotesCompanion Plants
Gold Heart Bleeding Heart: Spring Gold for the Shade Garden
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Gold Heart bleeding heart takes the old-fashioned bleeding heart your grandmother grew and gives it glowing golden-yellow leaves. In May, arching sprays of puffy, rose-pink hearts with white tips dangle in rows over the gold foliage, set off by fleshy pinkish stems. It is one of the brightest things you can put in a shade garden in spring.
It needs shade and moist soil, so it lives well away from lavender. Picture it under trees or along a north wall while the lavender bakes happily in the sun.
Gold Heart at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lamprocapnos spectabilis 'Gold Heart' (formerly Dicentra) |
| Flowers | Rose pink hearts with white tips, about an inch long |
| Foliage | Golden yellow in spring, softening to yellow-green |
| Size | 18 to 24 inches tall, 2 to 3 feet wide |
| Bloom | Starts early May, peaks mid-May |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Part sun to part shade, full shade |
| Deer | Resistant |
Planning around summer dormancy
Like other old-fashioned bleeding hearts, Gold Heart often yellows and goes dormant by midsummer, especially in dry, hot or sunny spots. Its foliage holds longer than the species in shade, but plan for the gap anyway. Plant hostas, ferns or hardy geraniums close by; as their leaves fill out in June, they cover the space the bleeding heart leaves behind. Steady spring moisture delays dormancy.
The timing actually suits a lavender garden well. Gold Heart does its job in May, weeks before lavender blooms, so the shady side of the property has its moment first. Map both sides in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Light: part shade is best. The gold leaves can scorch in strong sun.
- Soil: humus-rich and evenly moist, but well drained. Fleshy stems and crowns rot in soggy ground.
- Spacing: it grows 2 to 3 feet wide, so do not crowd it.
- Mark it: once it goes dormant, put a label at the crown so no one digs into it.
- Winter: very hardy in Michigan. A light leaf mulch helps.
Cutting and safety
The arching sprays are good cut flowers for a spring vase. All parts of bleeding heart are toxic if eaten, and the sap can irritate skin, so wear gloves when cutting or dividing, and keep it away from pets and children who might nibble. It is grown as an ornamental only.
Two tray sizes
Gold Heart is offered as a 72-cell plug tray and a 20-cell plug tray. The 72-cell tray suits growers and large shade plantings; the 20-cell tray's larger, deeper cells give each plant a stronger start. See the product pages for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
My plant disappeared in July. Did it die?
Most likely it went dormant. The roots are resting and it should return next spring.
Does it need sun to stay gold?
It holds good color in part shade. Too much sun scorches the leaves, so morning sun is the most it needs.
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