Bleeding Heart
Lamprocapnos spectabilis
Family: Papaveraceae · Also called Lady in a Bath, Lyre Flower, Venus's Car, Hedycapnos spectabilis, Corydalis spectabilis, Capnorchis spectabilis
Green & Fresh · Spring bloomer
Few flowers are as instantly recognizable or architecturally perfect as the bleeding heart. Arching stems carry a row of pendulous, heart-shaped flowers, each one split at the base to reveal a white 'drop' that gives the appearance of a bleeding heart. It's nature's most poetic flower form.
unconditional love, compassion, heartbreak
In the Victorian language of flowers, bleeding heart means “Unconditional love”. In Japan, it's called 'tai-tsurisō' (sea bream fishing flower) because the arching stems resemble a fishing rod with the catch dangling. In Korea, folklore says the flower represents a maiden who died of heartbreak waiting for her lover to return from war.
Did You Know?
Bleeding heart was reclassified from Dicentra to Lamprocapnos in 2006 based on DNA evidence, it's actually more closely related to poppies than to its former Dicentra relatives. The plant goes fully dormant by midsummer, disappearing completely underground until the following spring.
Moist, shaded woodland floors and rocky slopes in Korea, China, and Japan
Bleeding Heart is native to East Asia. It naturally grows in moist, shaded woodland floors and rocky slopes in korea, china, and japan.
Scent Profile
“Virtually unscented, a faint green, leafy note from the foliage but no floral perfume. This flower speaks entirely through form and color.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NameLamprocapnos spectabilis
- FamilyPapaveraceae
- Native ToEast Asia
- Bloom SeasonSpring
- LifespanPerennial
Cultural Significance
In Japan, it's called 'tai-tsurisō' (sea bream fishing flower) because the arching stems resemble a fishing rod with the catch dangling. In Korea, folklore says the flower represents a maiden who died of heartbreak waiting for her lover to return from war.