Lamprocapnos spectabilisOne of my favorites, bleeding heart flowers look like small pink or white hearts hanging from the stems. They bloom in early spring and then go dormant in the hot summer and fall. It grows well in deep shade, or in hardwood forests that have dappled sun early in the spring and then shade after the leaves come out. The bleeding heart was originally brought over from eastern Asia, but a similar looking plant, Dicentra cucullaria (Dutchman's breeches), is native to the eastern United States.
Propagation
I have never had any luck finding seeds growing from Lamprocapnos spectabilis, but the plant slowly enlarges at the root from season to season. It can be successfully propagated by dividing the root early in the spring. Wait until the leaves are just starting to emerge so you can see where the shoots are coming up, and leave a good amount of root with each shoot.
Pests & Diseases
Pests are rarely present on this plant. I have seen aphids on the leaves and flowers but no serious damage. Overall, in my experience in Georgia (zone 7a) it's very reliable year after year as long as other plants are not allowed to crowd it out.
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