Dicentra ‘Amore Titanium’ (Fern-Leaf Bleeding Heart)

Dicentra Amore™ ‘Titanium’ (Bleeding Heart) – Long-Blooming White Flowers for Shade Gardens

Dicentra Amore™ ‘Titanium’, often sold as Amore Titanium bleeding heart, is a compact, long-blooming perennial with pure white heart-shaped flowers held above soft blue-green, fern-like foliage. It brings the romance of classic bleeding hearts into a smaller, more heat-tolerant, longer-flowering form that fits beautifully into shade gardens, woodland borders, containers, entry plantings, and cool, moist patio displays.

This is not the old-fashioned bleeding heart that blooms briefly in spring and disappears in summer. Amore™ ‘Titanium’ belongs to Terra Nova Nurseries’ Amore™ series, bred and selected for exceptional vigor, heat resistance, and a much longer bloom season. Its white flowers appear from spring through summer in cool, shaded conditions, creating a clean, luminous effect against finely cut foliage.

Use this perennial where you want elegance without fuss. It is small enough for the front of a border, bright enough to lift a dark corner, and refined enough for containers by an entry or shaded seating area. Give it part shade to full shade, moist but well-drained loamy soil, and steady moisture, and it becomes one of the most graceful repeat-blooming perennials for the shade garden.

Quick Facts – Dicentra Amore™ ‘Titanium’

Summary: Compact herbaceous perennial bleeding heart with pure white flowers, soft blue-green fern-like foliage, and a long spring-to-summer bloom season.
Use: Excellent for shade gardens, woodland borders, containers, entry plantings, small-space borders, cool patios, and moist part-shade beds.
Highlight: A vigorous, heat-resistant Amore™ series selection with one of the longest flowering periods among bleeding hearts.
Note: Keep evenly moist, not wet. Strong sun or dry soil can cause summer rest, reduced bloom, or foliage decline.

Botanical Name	Dicentra Amore™ ‘Titanium’; US Patent PP35856
Family	Papaveraceae
Common Names	Amore Titanium bleeding heart, Titanium bleeding heart, white bleeding heart
Plant Type and Habit	Herbaceous perennial; compact, clumping, mounding, deciduous in winter
Hardiness (USDA)	Generally listed for USDA Zones 5 to 9
Size	About 9 in. tall in foliage, 18 in. wide, with flower stems to about 14 in.
Sun and Exposure	Part shade to full shade; filtered sun or morning sun is best where soil stays cool and moist
Soil	Moist, loamy, humus-rich, well-drained soil; avoid wet winter soil and dry summer soil
Bloom Time	Spring through summer, often May to September in favorable conditions
Flower Color	Pure white heart-shaped flowers, often opening from pale greenish buds
Foliage Color	Soft blue-green to smoky green, finely divided, fern-like foliage
Wildlife Value	Listed as a hummingbird attractor; flowers may also interest early-season pollinators
Deer Resistance	Generally deer resistant, though no plant is completely deer proof

Care – Quick

• Planting: Plant in spring or fall in cool, humus-rich, well-drained soil.
• Light: Choose part shade or full shade; protect from hot afternoon sun.
• Water: Keep evenly moist, not soggy, especially during bloom.
• Feeding: Top-dress with compost in spring, or use a light slow-release fertilizer.
• Pruning: Remove spent flower stems and tired foliage to encourage fresh growth.
• Mulch: Use leaf mold, compost, or fine bark to keep roots cool and moist.
• Best use: Plant near paths, entries, patios, or shaded containers where the white flowers can be appreciated up close.

What Is Dicentra Amore™ ‘Titanium’?

Description

Amore™ ‘Titanium’ is a compact bleeding heart selected for pure white flowers, refined blue-green foliage, and exceptional garden vigor. Terra Nova Nurseries describes it as a spontaneous mutation of Amore™ ‘Pink’ and highlights its heat resistance and many months of bloom. Compared with traditional bleeding hearts, it is lower, denser, and better suited to containers and small-space shade plantings.

The plant forms a neat mound of finely divided foliage with arching stems of dangling white flowers. The blooms have the classic bleeding-heart shape but a cleaner, brighter color than many older white forms. Because the plant remains relatively low, it works beautifully at the front of a border, along a shaded path, or in a decorative pot.

Growth Habit and Size

This is a clump-forming perennial with a mounded habit. Mature plants are commonly listed at about 9 inches tall in foliage and 18 inches wide, with flowering stems rising to about 14 inches. The compact footprint makes it easy to weave between hostas, ferns, brunneras, heucheras, hellebores, and spring bulbs without overwhelming them.

Flowers and Bloom Season

The pure white flowers are the main attraction. They appear on slender arching stems above the foliage and can continue from late spring into summer where the plant receives shade and steady moisture. In hot, dry, or sunny conditions, bloom may slow, and the plant may take a summer rest. In cool shade, it can remain fresh and floriferous for months.

Foliage and Texture

The foliage is soft, lacy, and blue-green, giving the plant value even before and after bloom. Its fine texture contrasts beautifully with bold hosta leaves, rounded heuchera foliage, glossy hellebore leaves, and silver brunnera. In winter, the plant goes dormant and returns from the crown in spring.

Hardiness and Climate

Amore™ ‘Titanium’ is generally listed for USDA Zones 5 to 9. It is notably heat-resistant for a bleeding heart, but heat-resistant does not mean drought-tolerant. In warm climates, shade and moisture are essential. In cold climates, avoid heavy winter-wet soil, which can damage crowns and roots.

Uses in the Landscape

• Shade garden jewel: Use where its white flowers brighten dark soil, mulch, stone, or evergreen backdrops.
• Woodland edge: Plant with ferns, hostas, hellebores, and spring ephemerals in filtered light.
• Container accent: Grow in a shaded pot where moisture can be monitored easily.
• Entry planting: Place near a doorway or shaded path so the flowers are seen at close range.
• Small-space border: Use at the front of a cool border with other compact foliage perennials.
• White garden: Combine with white hostas, white astilbes, and silver-leaved companions.

Wildlife and Pollinator Value

Terra Nova lists Amore™ ‘Titanium’ as a hummingbird attractor. The dangling flowers may also interest pollinators visiting shaded gardens. Its strongest role, however, is ornamental – bringing long-lasting white bloom and fine foliage texture to spaces where many sun perennials cannot perform.

Deer and Browsing Animals

Amore™ ‘Titanium’ is generally considered deer-resistant. That makes it useful in woodland-edge gardens where hostas and other shade plants may be browsed. Deer resistance is not absolute, especially in high-pressure areas, but bleeding hearts are usually less tempting than many soft-leaved perennials.

Drought Tolerance

This is not a drought-tolerant perennial. It needs regular moisture during active growth and flowering. If the soil dries repeatedly, the plant may stop blooming, wilt, yellow, or go partially dormant. A mulch of composted leaves or fine bark helps buffer moisture swings.

Toxicity

Bleeding hearts contain alkaloids and should be treated as toxic if eaten by pets, people, or grazing animals. Keep pets and children from chewing the foliage, flowers, or roots, and contact a veterinarian or poison control professional if ingestion is suspected. Wear gloves if you have sensitive skin.

Invasiveness

Amore™ ‘Titanium’ is not invasive. It forms a compact clump and does not run aggressively. Over time, established plants may be divided, but patented selections should not be propagated for sale or distribution without permission.

Growing Conditions For Amore™ ‘Titanium’ Bleeding Heart

Light

Part shade to full shade is best. Morning sun or filtered sun is acceptable where soil stays cool and moist. Avoid hot afternoon sun, especially in warm regions or in containers. Too much sun can reduce flowering and push the plant into summer rest.

Soil

Plant in moist, loamy, humus-rich, well-drained soil. The ideal soil feels like a woodland edge – fertile, cool, and moisture-retentive but never stagnant. Improve sandy soil with compost, and avoid compacted clay that stays wet in winter.

Water

Keep the soil evenly moist during active growth. Water deeply rather than sprinkling lightly, and check containers often in warm weather. The goal is steady moisture, not wet feet. Terra Nova recommends keeping garden plants evenly moist, not wet.

Feeding

Feed lightly. A spring topdressing of compost is often enough. In containers or lean soil, use a mild slow-release perennial fertilizer. Avoid heavy feeding, which can encourage soft growth and reduce resilience.

Planting, Maintenance, And Propagation

Planting Tips

Plant in spring or early fall. Set the crown at the same level it grew in the pot, water thoroughly, and mulch lightly. Space plants about 16 to 18 inches apart so the mound can expand without crowding.

Maintenance and Pruning

Deadhead spent flowers to keep the plant tidy and encourage continued bloom. Remove yellowing or tired foliage as needed. Cut back after the plant goes dormant in fall, or leave a little top growth as a marker and clean up in early spring.

Propagation

Amore™ ‘Titanium’ is protected by US Patent PP35856, so propagation for sale or distribution is prohibited without authorization. Home gardeners should purchase plants from licensed nurseries. Older clumps may be divided for garden maintenance where permitted, but avoid disturbing young plants unnecessarily.

Problems And Pests

Amore™ ‘Titanium’ is generally easy to grow when sited correctly, but moisture balance, drainage, and airflow matter. Most problems come from wet soil, hot sun, drought stress, or crowded shade conditions.

• Root rot: Wet winter soil, soggy potting mix, or poor drainage can damage the roots and crown. Plant in moist but well-drained soil, avoid standing water, and keep containers from sitting in saucers of water.
• Summer dormancy or foliage decline: Heat, strong sun, or dry soil can cause the plant to rest, yellow, or decline temporarily. In warm climates, provide shade, mulch, and steady moisture.
• Slugs and snails: Watch tender spring growth in moist shade. Use barriers, hand removal, or wildlife-friendly controls if feeding damage appears.
• Aphids: Aphids may appear on tender stems or flower stalks and can usually be rinsed off with water or controlled by beneficial insects.
• Leaf spots and occasional foliage diseases: Leaf spots, mildew, or rust-like symptoms are more likely in crowded, humid, or poorly ventilated plantings. Improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering late in the day, and remove badly affected foliage.
• Poor flowering: Usually caused by too much sun, too little moisture, poor soil, overcrowding, or a young plant still establishing.

Design Ideas and Companion Plants for Amore™ ‘Titanium’ Bleeding Heart

These companions suit Amore™ ‘Titanium’ because they share its preference for part shade to shade, humus-rich soil, steady moisture, and cool woodland conditions. Use them to build layered shade plantings with white flowers, silver foliage, blue-green leaves, gold texture, and deer-resistant interest.

• White shade border: Pair Amore™ ‘Titanium’ with Dicentra spectabilis ‘White Gold’, white astilbes, silver brunnera, and variegated hostas for a bright, elegant shade border.
• Blue and white woodland: Combine the pure white flowers with Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’, Hosta ‘June’, and Hosta ‘Patriot’ for a cool, luminous mix of white, silver, blue-green, and variegated foliage.
• Container for shade: Grow Amore™ ‘Titanium’ in a broad shaded pot with Heuchera ‘Caramel’, Heuchera ‘Fire Chief’, and Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’. The white flowers, warm foliage, and cascading gold grass make a polished entry or patio display.
• Spring-to-summer transition: Plant near hellebores, spring bulbs, and Dicentra spectabilis ‘Gold Heart’ so the shade garden stays colorful after early spring flowers fade.
• Deer-resistant shade pocket: Use Amore™ ‘Titanium’ with ferns, Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’, Heuchera ‘Caramel’, Heuchera ‘Fire Chief’, and hellebores where browsing pressure makes hostas difficult.
• Gold and white glow: For a high-contrast shade combination, pair the white hearts with Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’, Dicentra spectabilis ‘White Gold’, and Hosta ‘June’.

Frequently Asked Questions

References

Terra Nova Nurseries – Dicentra ‘Amore Titanium’: https://www.terranovanurseries.com/product/dicentra-amore-titanium/

Horticulture Magazine – Dicentra Titanium: https://www.hortmag.com/plants/titanium-bleeding-heart

Gardenia – Bleeding Heart Guide: https://www.gardenia.net/guide/how-to-grow-and-care-for-bleeding-heart

Pet Poison Helpline – Bleeding Hearts: https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/bleeding-hearts/

Updated: June 2026 • Reviewed by Gardenia Editors