Dicentra Bernh. is a genus belonging to the former Fumariaceae family, a family that since APG III has been included as subfamily Fumarioideae in the Papaveraceae family. Some species have tuberous rootstocks and some have overwintering rhizomes. Others are probably best described as herbaceous perennials. This genus is distributed in North America, Japan and eastern Asia.
Dicentra canadensis (Goldie) Walp. is native to the eastern US and Canada. Height range: 15-30 cm. The photos below were taken by Nhu Nguyen in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in Tennessee, April 2006.
Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh. is another species from Canada and the United States growing from a cluster of small tubers. Flowers are white marked with yellow. Height range: 10-30 cm. Photo by John Lonsdale.
Dicentra eximia (Ker Gawl.) Torr. is an eastern United States species, Fringed Bleeding Heart, that grows from a rhizome. It is found on forest floors, rocky woods and ledges in the Appalachian Mountains and is best grown in moist shade. It has fern-like, grayish-green foliage which persists throughout the growing season and pink to purplish red, nodding, heart-shaped flowers. Height range: 30-45 cm. Photos by John Lonsdale of a plant with pink flowers and an unusual white form.
Dicentra formosa (Andrews) Walp. is a plant that spreads by rhizomes and has ferny green leaves and rosy pink, occasionally white, heart-shaped flowers that arch above the leaves. It is native to Western North America. It can become invasive in a well watered summer garden. Height range: 30-45 cm. It has two subspecies. Photo by Richard Haard.
Dicentra formosa ssp. oregana (Eastw.) Munz is native to Oregon and California. Photo by John Lonsdale
Dicentra peregrina (Rudolph) Makino is an alpine species from Japan and Siberia with large pink or white flowers. This species grows from a rhizome. Height range: 10-15 cm. Photos by John Lonsdale.
Dicentra 'Queen of Hearts' was a selection once offered by White Flower Farms in the early 1980s. Height range: 20-38 cm. Photo from John Lonsdale.
Dicentra scandens (D.Don) Walp. is native to the Himalayas. This is an interesting species that climbs along other vegetation in shade to semi-sun areas. It does well in cooler, milder climates and tends not to be very frost tolerant. Height range: 10-12 ft. All the climbing species have been put in the new genus Dactylicapnos. This species is now considered by Plants of the World Online in 2025 to be Dactylicapnos scandens (D.Don) Hutch and is labeled a climbing perennial. The photos below were taken by Nhu Nguyen from the Strybing Arboretum, San Francisco. Photograph of seed and seed pod by David Pilling.
