Do you know the bleeding heart flower? Its incredible shape, which clearly details the reason for its name, makes this plant one of the most beautiful and coveted in the world. It is a flower native to Asia that has become an emblem for all those who want to demonstrate the love and importance of a loved one or their partner, due to its shape, precisely heart and its lower part in the shape of a drop, as if it is bleeding.
What plant is the bleeding heart?
In this article we will tell you everything about this flower and its characteristics, why they have this special shape and their properties. When we refer to the Bleeding Heart, we are talking specifically about a plant that in the world of botany is called Lamprocapnos spectabilis, who It has its origin in the entire area of East Asia.
North China, Korea, Siberia and South Japan are the places where it arose since its discovery, to go on to be cultivated in all parts of the world for its incredible beauty. It is part of a family of angiosperms Of which there are a total of 770 species and it is very common throughout the world to find them with different names, such as Fumaria, Dicentra, Heart of Mary, Heart of the Virgin and as we have mentioned here, Bleeding Heart.
Her CARACTERISTICS
One of its most particular characteristics is the heart-shaped shape of its flowers, whose petals can show from an intense red color to pink tones, although also there is a species of these that has white petals This variety is often called Alba.
The shape of its branches makes the flowers very peculiarly arranged in a cluster that is horizontal, where each of the flowers will be presented next to each other, giving a special shape and arrangement to the amount of heart-shaped flowers, something that makes it very attractive to decorate.
The flowers of this specimen usually reach between 2 and 4 centimeters and each of these plants has approximately 15 flowers and the stems of their arches present white lobes that are doubled in their flowering, when the spring is ending and the summer season begins. These lobes are very similar to those of a tear, which gives them the “bleeding” characteristic that their name describes.
If we talk particularly about your plant, it can reach a height of approximately 90 centimeters and it is characterized by having roots that show great fragility, so it is advisable not to manipulate them. Its stems have a woody shape and show alternate leaves, ranging from a very strong greenish to a grayish color.
Blooming of the Bleeding Heart
This plant will show its first flowers in early spring and can spread throughout this period and even continue to bloom into summer. There will come a time when temperatures will begin to drop and the Bleeding Heart flower will change its hue, from an intense pink that it usually has in its gestation and growth, to an even more reddish tone, which will give it a more heart-like appearance than the one it previously presented.
In our hemisphere, it will be the months that go from November to March when this plant does not present any type of flowers and not even leaves. In this autumn and winter period the plant will rest and it will not demonstrate in any way the majesty that it usually has in times of flowering.
That is why cultivating the Lamprocapnos spectabilis It is usually very successful in areas where heat and humid climate occur to a greater extent during much of the year, such as the areas closest to the equator on the different continents of our planet.
After flowering, it will be when its fruits will appear and the seeds are born and grow in long pods, which will allow them to fall at the moment of greatest weakness to disperse on the ground and give rise to new specimens.
How to grow one of these plants?
To cultivate a bleeding heart, we can perform two different procedures:
Propagation by cutting
An exponent of this plant will be divided into root cuttings, and then proceed to the planting of the new exponent. This type of cultivation should be carried out at times when the flowering process ends.
Propagation by seeds
These seeds will be obtained by opening their pods and must be done at times when spring arrives, but their germination will depend on the temperature. If the spring weather is cool, it is very possible that you will have to find a way to keep that cold under control for the cultivation to be successful.
To obtain a more effective result in the cultivation of the seed, it is advisable that it be planted when it is fresh, that is, when it just comes off the natural sheath that surrounds it.
If there is a way to end the dormancy of the seed, it would be to refrigerate it for more than 6 weeks together with the substrate, and then move it away from the cold condition and treat it again in a conventional way.
It will be the humidity of the soil that allows the seed not to fall into dormancy even in times of summer, so in the hottest and driest areas it is advisable to keep the soil in a constant state of humidity for its growth.
So that the bleeding heart grows in its maximum splendor, we must take into account certain points which we will detail below:
Soil
This must have good drainage, in addition to an obvious fertility and present acid characteristics to a small extent. Adding clay to your substrate will give you that constant moisture you need for your development.
Light
As we mentioned before, in areas where temperatures are very strong and climates dry, it will be convenient for this plant to be almost completely in the shade. It is only in places where the climates are colder and wetter where this plant can tolerate constant sunlight.
Irrigation
In times of full heat, where the flower appears, it should be watered weekly, never ceasing to keep the soil moist, so that it does not spoil.
The beauty of the bleeding heart
The flower presents an exotic beauty unmatched in the world of botany. It is usually used in an ornamental way in all the gardens of the world and is a very special gift, especially on Valentine's Day. You already know everything about the plant and the flower of the Bleeding Heart, you only have to venture to cultivate it so that you can enjoy its beauty in your garden.