Bleeding Heart in Zone 9a & 9b
Lamprocapnos spectabilis
When to plant bleeding heart in zone 9b
Zones 9a and 9b 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 | Jan 18–Jan 25 |
| Estimated bloom | Jan 18 '28–Jan 25 '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 9's season
Zone 9b's frost-free window runs about 293 days, from February 15 to December 5. 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 9b 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 →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a genuine consensus of positive, independent reviews. See the sources cited on each item.
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 9b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →

Pin this for later
Growing Bleeding Heart in USDA zone 9b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
Save to Pinterest