Fringed Bleeding Heart

Dicentra eximia

Fringed Bleeding Heart is a perennial for edging, mid-border, suited to shade and partial shade and clay or loam, flowering Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug.

Where to use it in a border

At around 35 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 45 cm of room to spread, roughly 2 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 3a to 9a, so check it suits your area before planting.

It appears in our lists of shade, clay soil, pollinator-friendly plants.

Border Builder uses Fringed Bleeding Heart's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.

Flowering through the year

Worth knowing

• It tolerates a shaded, north-facing spot.
• Not recorded as pet-safe; site it away from pets that graze if that matters to you.
• Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.

Good companions

Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:

• Marsh marigoldto edge in front
• Northern Sea Oatsfor height behind it
• Primroseto edge in front
• Wild angelicafor height behind it
• Black Cohoshfor height behind it
• Bugleto edge in front

Garden styles

Native Shade cottage Wildlife garden Woodland