Rubies and Diamonds Bleeding Heart: A Sun-Loving Ruby Accent

Rubies and Diamonds fernleaf bleeding heart is not your grandmother's shade-garden bleeding heart. This compact fernleaf hybrid carries some of the deepest ruby-red hearts in its group, dangling from slender stems over very finely cut, glaucous blue foliage. And unlike the old-fashioned kind, it prefers sun and sharp drainage and does not vanish into dormancy in summer.

Rubies and Diamonds at a glance

Why it works with lavender

Classic bleeding hearts want cool, damp shade and would be a poor match for lavender. Fernleaf types like Rubies and Diamonds are different. They want sun and excellent drainage, which puts them right at home at the front of a lavender bed. The blue, lacy leaves sit beautifully beside lavender's silver foliage, and the ruby hearts give a rich accent of red against the purple.

It blooms from late May on, with a peak in mid-June just as lavender begins, then keeps flowering into fall if it never dries out completely. Tuck it in front of lavender or among stones at the bed's edge. Map it out in the Companion Plant Planner.

Planting and care

• Site: full sun to light part shade in average soil with excellent drainage. Not a damp woodland plant.
• Water: during long dry spells. It keeps blooming best when the soil never dries out completely.
• Heat: in the hottest sites, a little afternoon shade helps.
• Midsummer: trim tired foliage if needed to refresh the plant.
• Airflow: good drainage and spacing limit leaf spot and mildew in damp weather.
• Handling: wear gloves; the sap can irritate skin.

Winter

Rubies and Diamonds is very hardy in Michigan. Its fleshy crowns rot in soggy winter soil, so drainage is the key. Cut the foliage back after frost and do not pile heavy mulch over the crown.

Containers and edging

Its tidy, rounded shape makes it a good container plant and a neat edging along a sunny path. Hummingbirds visit the flowers, so a pot near a window or patio gives you a close-up view.

Frequently asked questions

Will it go dormant in summer like old bleeding hearts?

No. Fernleaf hybrids keep their foliage through summer, as long as the soil does not dry out completely.

Is it safe for kids and pets?

All parts are toxic if eaten, so plant it where it will not be nibbled.

How is it offered?

As a full 72-cell plug tray. See the product page for current availability.

Keep exploring

• Rubies and Diamonds Fernleaf Bleeding Heart 72-Cell Plug Tray
• Companion Plant Library
• Companion Plant Planner
• Plant Health Checker