Create Your Garden

Dicentra formosa ‘Bacchanal’ (Pacific Bleeding Heart)

Pacific Bleeding Heart 'Bacchanal', Pacific Bleedinghearts 'Bacchanal', Western Bleedingheart 'Bacchanal', Wild Bleeding Heart 'Bacchanal', Western Fringed Bleeding Heart 'Bacchanal', Oregon Bleeding Heart 'Bacchanal'

AGM Award
Dicentra 'Bacchanal', Dicentra formosa 'Bacchanal', Fern-Leaf Bleeding Heart 'Bacchanal', Bleeding Heart 'Bacchanal', Pink Flowers, Shade Perennial

Award-winner Dicentra formosa ‘Bacchanal’ (Pacific Bleeding Heart) is a spreading rhizomatous perennial adorned with a gray-green, finely divided foliage and short racemes of nodding, heart-shaped, deep crimson flowers. Blooming from late spring to early summer, the flowers dangle gracefully above the lush foliage mound. Flowering will stop in the heat of the summer and may start again in late summer to early fall. A reliable performer that is excellent for edging, rock gardens or as a groundcover.

  • Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society for its outstanding merits
  • Grows up to 12-18 in. tall and wide (30-45 cm). Unlike Common Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra spectabilis), it will not go dormant in midsummer as long as the soil is kept moist.
  • Thrives in part shade and is easily grown in fertile, humus-rich, neutral or slightly alkaline, moist, well-drained soils. It can be grown in full sun in the coolest part of its range provided the soil is kept consistently moist.
  • Great for edging, rock gardens, underplanting shrubs or as a ground cover
  • No serious pest or disease issues. Deer and rabbit resistant.
  • Propagate by division in early spring or after the leaves have died down.
  • If ingested, all parts may cause stomach upset, the foliage may aggravate skin allergies. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Bleeding Heart plants are not only toxic to humans but animals as well. Although aesthetically pleasing, this plant contains soquinoline alkaloids. Alkaloids negatively affect animals, most commonly cattle, sheep, and dogs.

Requirements

Hardiness 3 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 8
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Papaveraceae
Genus Dicentra
Common names Bleeding Heart
Exposure Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Height 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 20" (50cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam
Soil pH Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit
Attracts Butterflies, Bees
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Edging, Ground Covers, Rain Gardens, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Gravel and Rock Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Dicentra (Bleeding Heart)
Not sure which Dicentra (Bleeding Heart) to pick?
Compare Now

Alternative Plants to Consider

Dicentra ‘Stuart Boothman’ (Bleeding Heart)
Dicentra ‘Pink Diamonds’ (Fern-Leaf Bleeding Heart)
Dicentra ‘Fire Island’ (Fern-Leaf Bleeding Heart)
Dicentra formosa ‘Ivory Hearts’ (Pacific Bleeding Heart)
Dicentra formosa (Pacific Bleeding Heart)
Dicentra canadensis (Squirrel Corn)

Recommended Companion Plants

Lysimachia punctata ‘Alexander’ (Yellow Loosestrife)
Myosotis sylvatica (Wood Forget-Me-Not)
Hosta (Plantain Lily)
Brunnera macrophylla (Siberian Bugloss)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

Pure White Flowers for a Touch of Elegance in Your Garden
30 Great Perennials for Shade
30 Best Spring Flowers to Spruce up Your Garden
20 Spring Wildflowers to Create a Dazzling Garden
How to Grow and Care for Bleeding Heart
Dicentra (Bleeding Heart)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 3 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 8
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Papaveraceae
Genus Dicentra
Common names Bleeding Heart
Exposure Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Height 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 20" (50cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam
Soil pH Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit
Attracts Butterflies, Bees
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Edging, Ground Covers, Rain Gardens, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Gravel and Rock Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Dicentra (Bleeding Heart)
Not sure which Dicentra (Bleeding Heart) to pick?
Compare Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Dicentra formosa ‘Bacchanal’ (Pacific Bleeding Heart) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Dicentra formosa ‘Bacchanal’ (Pacific Bleeding Heart) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone