Bleeding hearts

In honor of Earth Day- I am starting a series about plants that are native to this area- the Pacific Northwest.

This is one of my favorites- Dicentra Formosa or commonly known as the Western Bleeding Heart or the Pacific Bleeding Heart. It flowers in the spring and often will rebloom in the fall. The foliage can disappear with summer heat but with water and a little shade, will last all summer. It grows from rhizomes and spreads easily by seed- this plant has found its way across my yard and into a crack on my front stairs.

People think that it always rains in the Pacific Northwest but, in fact, little rain can be expected during the summer months. Like most native plants, the bleeding heart needs no additional water to survive. The foliage will just die back and return the following year.

A beautiful and carefree plant to add to your garden, especially if accompanied by a well behaved dog.