Bleeding Heart in Zone 6a & 6b
Lamprocapnos spectabilis
When to plant bleeding heart in zone 6b
Zones 6a and 6b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. Bleeding Heart doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Mar 28–Apr 4 |
| Estimated bloom | Mar 27 '28–Apr 3 '28 (First real harvest the season after planting) |
Spacing: about 2 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-3 ft.
Bleeding heart is a spring perennial with arching stems of pendant pink and white flowers, and it disappears entirely partway through the year.
How bleeding heart fits zone 6's season
Zone 6b's frost-free window runs about 173 days, from April 25 to October 15. Bleeding Heart takes about 1 growing season to reach full flowering, so what matters here is how many of these seasons it gets, not whether one is long enough.
Bleeding Heart is hardy in zones 3-9, so in zone 6b it stays in the ground through winter and comes back rather than being replanted. Allow about 2 ft of spread at maturity.
Good companions
No standout companions recorded yet for Bleeding Heart.
Where to buy bleeding heart seeds
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing bleeding heart" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 6b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →

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Growing Bleeding Heart in USDA zone 6b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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