Bleeding heart (Dicentra 'Adrian Bloom')
Discover Dicentra 'Adrian Bloom', a low-maintenance herbaceous perennial prized for its crimson-rose heart-shaped flowers from spring to mid-summer.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Dicentra ‘Adrian Bloom’ is a highly valued herbaceous perennial, offering gardeners a compact and reliable source of color in shaded environments. This specific cultivar of Bleeding heart is renowned for its deeply-cut, fern-like foliage, which often maintains an attractive grayish-green hue throughout the growing season. Its primary aesthetic appeal comes from the nodding, heart-shaped flowers rendered in a rich crimson-rose color.
This robust gardening favorite thrives best when given consistently moist, well-drained soil conditions. Dicentra ‘Adrian Bloom’ is a relatively low-maintenance choice, rewarding minimal care with an extended bloom period generally running from late spring well into July. Growing to just under a foot tall, it provides excellent texture and form in woodland settings or beneath taller shrubs.
The charm of this Bleeding heart lies in its classic form combined with improved vigor compared to some older varieties. By ensuring the soil never dries out completely during summer heat, gardeners can encourage Dicentra ‘Adrian Bloom’ to maintain its beauty, making it an essential backbone plant for perennial borders seeking reliable summer interest.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Papaveraceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.75-1 ft
- Spread: 0.75-1 ft
- Bloom Time: April to July
- Bloom Description: Crimson-rose
- Sun Exposure: Part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Planting Dicentra ‘Adrian Bloom’ is best accomplished in the spring or fall, allowing the roots time to establish before summer heat sets in. Locate your Bleeding heart where it receives part shade; while it appreciates morning light, intense afternoon sun should always be avoided, especially in hotter zones. The key to success is soil preparation: the ground must be well-drained, yet rich in organic matter. It easily grows in average soil, but performs best in fertile, humusy conditions that retain consistent moisture.
Watering requirements for this perennial are medium, but critical attention must be paid to summer moisture levels. Soils for Dicentra ‘Adrian Bloom’ must not be allowed to dry out during the summer months for optimal performance. Conversely, avoid locations where wet soil persists over winter, as this can lead to root rot. Fertilization is generally unnecessary if the soil is rich, but a top-dressing of compost annually can supplement nutrients.
Maintenance is generally low once established. After the initial flush of spring blooms, promptly remove spent flowering stems. This simple act encourages the plant to produce additional flowers as the weather cools later in the season. Good soil drainage is the most essential cultural requirement for long-term survival of this beautiful Bleeding heart.
Landscape Uses
Dicentra ‘Adrian Bloom’ excels in spaces demanding vibrant color under the canopy of trees or on the north side of structures. Its refined texture makes it perfectly suited for mass plantings, creating dense drifts of cool-toned foliage and bright flowers. Consider using it in woodland gardens where it can mimic its native habitat conditions, or integrate it near paths where its nodding flowers can be appreciated up close.
When selecting companions, focus on other shade-loving perennials that share similar water and soil requirements. Hostas, Astilbes, and ferns are ideal partners, contrasting beautifully with the dissected leaves of the Bleeding heart. This cultivar’s compact size also makes it suitable for edging borders or incorporating into shaded rock gardens, where its low stature complements taller spring-flowering bulbs.
Even after the main blooming period wanes, the foliage of Dicentra ‘Adrian Bloom’ remains attractive, functioning well as a dense ground cover effect in fully shaded areas. This reliable late-season appearance distinguishes it, ensuring that the area doesn’t look bare once the tulips and daffodils fade.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Dicentra is a genus of 20 or more species of annual and perennial herbaceous flowering plants which are native to moist woodland areas in Asia and North America. Plants feature pendant, two-spurred, heart-shaped flowers atop mounds of deeply dissected leaves. A number of cultivars have been produced in recent years which are hybrid crosses between D. Peregrine (native to alpine areas of China and eastern Siberia) and D. Eximea (native to woodland areas of eastern North America) in which the goal was to produce a dicentra with a compact and robust habit, long flowering period, blue-gray foliage and quality flower colors. The genus name comes from the Greek words dis meaning twice and kentron meaning a spur for the two-spurred flowers. Flowers in the genus Dicentra are commonly called bleeding heart because protruding inner petals famously appear to form a drop of blood at the bottom of each heart-shaped bloom.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
Potential Problems
Dicentra ‘Adrian Bloom’ typically resists serious insect or disease issues, contributing to its low maintenance profile. However, some susceptibility to aphid infestations should be watched for, particularly during early spring growth flushes. More serious fungal issues like powdery mildew, downy mildew, verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt, and rust may rarely occur.
The single most critical factor in preventing disease and ensuring plant survival is excellent soil drainage. Waterlogged soil, especially during winter dormancy when the plant is less active, dramatically increases vulnerability to root pathogens. Management should focus on improving soil structure before planting.
Slugs and snails pose a minor threat, often attacking the tender new growth immediately as it emerges in spring. Physical barriers or appropriate baits can manage these pests effectively before they significantly damage the emerging foliage of your Bleeding heart.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Bleeding heart suitable for?
Dicentra ‘Adrian Bloom’ is suitable for USDA Zones 3 through 8, offering reliability across a wide range of northern and central climates.
How large does Dicentra ‘Adrian Bloom’ grow?
This compact cultivar typically reaches a height between 0.75 to 1 foot tall, with a spread of about 0.75 to 1 foot wide.
When does Bleeding heart bloom?
This variety provides extended color, blooming consistently from April through July, offering deep crimson-rose flowers.
What sun exposure does Dicentra ‘Adrian Bloom’ need?
This plant requires part shade; full sun should be avoided, particularly in warmer locations, to prevent leaf scorch and premature summer dormancy.
Conclusion
Dicentra ‘Adrian Bloom’ stands out in the perennial garden for its extended bloom time, beautiful foliage texture, and manageable size, making it a staple for shaded areas. Successfully growing this low-maintenance Bleeding heart relies on providing consistent moisture and well-drained, fertile soil. Before planting, ensure your chosen location falls within USDA Zones 3-8 and offers appropriate part shade conditions.
Companion Planting
Choosing effective companions centers on replicating the cool, consistently moist, and rich soil conditions that Dicentra ‘Adrian Bloom’ prefers. Spring-blooming bulbs like Daffodils (Narcissus) or late-flowering plants like Columbine (Aquilegia) create an overlapping display of seasonal interest before the Bleeding heart fully reaches its stride.
In the summer garden, focus on foliage contrast. Shade-tolerant foliage plants such as Hosta cultivars, especially those with chartreuse or variegated leaves, provide a bright backdrop for the dark green, finely dissected leaves of the Dicentra. Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra) is another excellent choice, offering soft, arching texture near the base of the plant.
When integrating these plants, remember that overcrowding can impede air circulation, which is counterproductive in shaded, moist environments. Give the Bleeding heart enough room to develop its compact habit while ensuring companions enhance, rather than compete with, its delicate structure.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Early Spring (Emergence): As soon as new shoots appear, inspect for early slug and snail activity and apply preventative measures if problems are common in your garden. Apply a light dusting of balanced, slow-release fertilizer only if your soil is known to be poor; otherwise, top-dressing with compost is sufficient.
Late Spring/Early Summer (Peak Bloom): This is the performance peak for Dicentra ‘Adrian Bloom’. Maintain even moisture levels, especially as temperatures rise approaching the 1 ft height mark. Deadhead spent flower stalks immediately and cleanly to encourage repeat blooming throughout the summer, provided temperatures remain moderate.
Mid to Late Summer (Dormancy Watch): In the hottest regions (Zone 7-8), the foliage may begin to thin or look tired if watering slackens. Increase watering frequency to keep soils consistently moist to delay summer dormancy and encourage potential rebloom should conditions cool slightly in early fall.
