
Care of Bleeding Heart
Earlier this summer I bought a healthy-looking bleeding heart plant with several lovely flowers. It is planted on the south side of our house. The original flowers matured and dropped off. I keep watering it and now I have a bigger bush with good-looking green leaves, but no flowers. What am I doing wrong?
You did nothing wrong. Continue to water and wait to fertilize. Too much fertilizer can encourage foliage and discourage flowers. Common bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) blooms in spring. After that you have foliage that usually dies back in mid summer. Fringed bleeding heart (Dicentra eximia) puts on its biggest flower display in late spring and early summer then continues to hold its leaves and bloom sporadically throughout the season. New plantings of these and other perennials often cease blooming the first season when they are moved into the garden. The plant sends the energy to the roots instead of the flowers. This is good for the long term health of the plant but a bit disappointing for us.
Related
Upcoming Live Events
& Webinars
April 26, 2025
Organic Gardening Basics
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 3, 2025
Low-Maintenance Gardening
Merton, WI
Register here
May 7, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Vertical Gardening
Register here
May 10, 2025
Ask the Plant Doctor Q&A
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 11, 2025
Ask the Plant Doctor Q&A
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 15, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
7 Steps to Managing Water on Your Property
Register here
May 17, 2025
Ask the Plant Doctor Q&A
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 18, 2025
Ask the Plant Doctor Q&A
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
June 4, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Attracting Hummingbirds
Register here
June 8, 2025
Selecting the Right Hydrangea
for Your Landscape
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
June 14, 2025
Houseplants 101
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
June 20, 2025 (event 6/20-6/22)
Pollinator Celebration
Vino in the Valley
Maiden Rock, WI
Register here
WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS
Learn More