Pruning bleeding heart
Advice for October in the Netherlands
Bleeding heart may die back in summer after its spring flowers. Let green foliage yellow naturally first; cutting it bare earlier does not create a new flowering season. Months are a guide for the Netherlands and Belgium; follow actual growth and flowering.
Bleeding heart — October
Check this first
Keep green bleeding-heart foliage intact. Only completely dead parts may be removed; a dormant, invisible clump needs no cutting.
Pay attention to this
- Do not remove green branches simply because the heart-shaped flowers have faded.
- Put a label beside the dormant clump to avoid digging into it.
- Wear gloves; the sap can irritate skin.
Frequently asked questions
- Is bleeding heart dead if it disappears in July?
- Not necessarily. Lamprocapnos spectabilis can go dormant in summer. Mark the spot and avoid damaging the underground clump.
- Can I cut everything off immediately after flowering?
- Wait for green stems and leaves to yellow or die naturally. Faded flowers alone can be removed earlier.
- Does this also apply to low-growing Dicentra?
- Not automatically. Dicentra eximia and formosa can retain leaves and flowers longer; this page applies only to Lamprocapnos spectabilis.