How do you take care of Bleeding Hearts?

Answer 1

Bleeding Heart likes only partial sun, or "Part shade" as is usually listed on the plant tage when you buy one from a greenhouse. I have one next to the east side of my house here in W. PA and its doing really well. Plant it (or wait till fall & replant it) where it will receive only some morning sun. Being on the east side of my house (or anywhere sheltered from westerly winds (& rain, storms, wind) is preferable. A BH will even thrive with very little direct sunlight, like under a big tree, or in a wooded area.

Keep them pretty moist and check the pH of the soil, they like between 6.0 - 7.5. A pH test kit will cost you about $12 at the local hardware, or greenhouse. It should tell you how to change the pH of the soil if it is REALLY out of bounds. If you live in zone 4 or lower, make sure to have plenty of mulch over the BH's crown (part of the plant that barely is above ground when the plant dies off in the fall) during winter months.