Isn't there some folklore behind a Bleeding Heart plant.

So many of our favorite plants are associated with stories, fables and folklore. The story behind the Shamrock is that St. Patrick, the saint who bought Christianity to Ireland, plucked a shamrock from the grass at his feet to illustrate the doctrine of the Holy Trinity to his congregation. Each leaf symbolizes the father, the son and the Holy Spirit. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on the anniversary of his death. Another plant that is the subject of folklore is the old-fashioned Bleeding Heart.

The most outstanding characteristic of Bleeding Hearts is, no doubt, the shape of their flowers. As the plants’ common name suggests, it bears heart-shaped flowers from which a little “drop of blood” dangles at the bottom. The flowers are arrayed on a tall arching stem, a lot like a string of pearls or miniature hearts. They have been gracing gardens for more than a century adding both elegance and beauty. They are also referred to as Lady’s Locket and Lady in a Boat.

You can reportedly make a story out of the Bleeding Heart flowers by dividing it into six pieces that are supposed to resemble two pink rabbits, a pair of earrings, & a pair of oriental slippers; and a dagger. The first items supposedly stand for gifts presented by an infatuated young man to a cold-hearted princess, and the last is what he stabbed himself with when she rejected him.

Granted, not a cheery tale. But, considering the shape of the blooms, it was almost inevitable that this plant come to represent romantic sorrow.

Bleeding Hearts bloom from late spring to early summer and are excellent perennials for the shade garden. Along with partial shade, they also prefer adequate moisture during the late summer period and grow to about 2-3 feet tall. When well watered, the foliage remains attractive well into the fall. If rainfall is light or the soil dries out, the foliage yellows and disappears by mid-June and the plants go dormant for the summer. A filler plant should be used to cover the bare spot that is left behind.

Because Bleeding Hearts last for years, and are notorious self-seeders, they will probably become overcrowded and need dividing in 3-4 years. Dig up in early spring but be sure to handle the roots very carefully because they are extremely brittle. Each piece of root division should have an eye or bud, however the root need not be more than three feet long. New planting locations should be well marked and cleaned, removing and remaining dormant stems.