Dicentra 'Passion Hearts' (PBR)
bleeding heart Passion Hearts
A real step forward for bleeding hearts, this compact perennial keeps the colour coming well beyond spring, producing a steady stream of two-tone rose-pink, heart-shaped flowers held on slender stems above finely cut blue-green foliage.
Dicentra 'Passion Hearts' forms a neat, bushy clump that works just as well at the front of a border as it does in a container, bringing a soft, romantic look without taking up much space. Unlike older cultivated varieties, it’s happy in full sun or partial shade and won’t disappear after its first flush, instead flowering from late spring right through to early autumn with only modest maintenance requirements.
It prefers well-drained soil and benefits from occasional watering in dry spells, but once settled it’s a reliable, easy-going addition that slots neatly into mixed planting schemes. With its long flowering season and tidy habit, it’s a great choice for adding consistent colour, and has been shortlisted for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Plant of the Year for 2026.
Dicentra 'Passion Hearts' forms a neat, bushy clump that works just as well at the front of a border as it does in a container, bringing a soft, romantic look without taking up much space. Unlike older cultivated varieties, it’s happy in full sun or partial shade and won’t disappear after its first flush, instead flowering from late spring right through to early autumn with only modest maintenance requirements.
It prefers well-drained soil and benefits from occasional watering in dry spells, but once settled it’s a reliable, easy-going addition that slots neatly into mixed planting schemes. With its long flowering season and tidy habit, it’s a great choice for adding consistent colour, and has been shortlisted for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Plant of the Year for 2026.
How to care for Dicentra Passion Hearts (PBR):
Plant in well-drained soil improved with organic matter, in a spot that gets sun or light shade; it’s more tolerant than Lamprocapnos species, so it will cope well with a brighter position as long as the soil doesn’t dry out completely. Water during prolonged dry spells, especially while it’s establishing, but avoid overly wet conditions.
Deadhead spent flowers regularly to keep new blooms coming, and trim back lightly if it starts to look untidy through the season. Unlike older cultivated varieties, it won’t die back early, so leave the foliage in place and simply cut it down in late autumn or early spring, finishing with a mulch of compost to keep it healthy year to year.
Deadhead spent flowers regularly to keep new blooms coming, and trim back lightly if it starts to look untidy through the season. Unlike older cultivated varieties, it won’t die back early, so leave the foliage in place and simply cut it down in late autumn or early spring, finishing with a mulch of compost to keep it healthy year to year.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
0.6m
Eventual spread:
0.7m
Position:
Full sun / light shade
Rate of growth:
Average
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Fully hardy
-
This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
