Bleeding heart is one of the most distinctive perennials in the spring garden — arching stems hung with pendulous heart-shaped flowers in pink-and-white or all-white, swaying gently above ferny, blue-grey foliage. It blooms from late April through June, then goes completely dormant in summer heat. Plant other perennials nearby to fill the gap.
As a cut flower, bleeding heart is underused. The arching stems work beautifully as a structural element in loose spring arrangements alongside peonies, narcissus, and foliage. Cut when about half the flowers on a stem are open. The stems exude a milky sap — handle with gloves and condition in clean water for several hours.
Fusarium wilt
Sudden wilting, brown streaks in stems, yellowing leaves. Affects sweet basil varieties most.
No cure. Remove and destroy plants. Do not replant in the same spot for 3+ years. Choose resistant varieties.
Downy mildew
Yellowing on top of leaves with grey-purple fuzz underneath. Spreads rapidly in humid conditions.
Remove affected leaves. Improve air circulation. Avoid overhead watering. Copper spray as preventive.
Aphids
Clusters of small soft insects on new growth and flower buds.
Knock off with a strong jet of water. Ladybirds and lacewings are natural predators. Insecticidal soap as last resort.
Bleeding Heart Stem Rot
Soft, water-soaked dark lesions at the stem base; stems collapse and a white fungal growth may appear near the soil line in wet conditions.
Remove and destroy affected stems and crowns. Improve drainage and air circulation, avoid overhead watering, and do not overcrowd plants. Replant divisions in well-draining soil.