The Stunning Pink Perennial You Can Plant In November For Strong Blooms In The Spring

When the chill of fall hits, many gardeners are already dreaming of spring and planning what they are going to add to their flower beds. And often, planting and other garden projects aren't actually complete until the ground freezes — plenty of time to sneak in a few more plants. And there are many flowers that you can plant in the fall for beautiful spring blooms, even through November. One of the more popular flowers that is often planted this time of year is a bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis, formerly Dicentra spectabilis). This beautiful herbaceous perennial is known for its uniquely shaped flowers — heart-shaped blooms with a drop at the bottom — for which it gets its name. Planting them now can help you get a head start on your spring flower garden.

Bleeding hearts are perennials that benefit from being planted late in the year. This strategy of planting flowers in the fall to enjoy in the spring ensures they can become fully established before putting energy into blooming. When planted in the spring, a bleeding heart will usually not have enough time to establish itself, which means you most likely won't get flowers the first year. That's why this method is perfect for impatient gardeners who want to see beautiful blooms not long after planting. At maturity, the bleeding heart will bloom year after year and can be propagated by division for more plants. It's also a good idea to mark off where you planted your new bleeding hearts, so you don't accidentally disturb them in the spring.

There are many ways to successfully care for your bleeding heart plant. The first is to make sure your location is within USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9 before purchasing your plants. If you are in the proper zone, you will then want to choose the best location in your garden to plant bleeding hearts. They benefit from early-morning sun and shade in the afternoon. Your garden soil should be moist but well-draining to prevent root rot. They will grow to about 2 to 3 feet in height and up to 3 feet wide, so make sure you aren't planting them too close together.

When you buy your bleeding hearts for fall planting, they will likely come as dormant, bare-root plants. To begin, dig a hole deep enough so that you have about 1 inch of soil above the crown of your plant, then fan out your roots before covering them. Fill the hole with soil, firmly patting around the plant, and then water. You can plant hostas or ferns alongside your bleeding hearts to fill out your garden space when they go dormant in the summer. After blooming, you should leave your bleeding hearts be until late summer, when you can remove any dead foliage. An important thing to remember is to wear gloves whenever handling your bleeding heart, as parts of this plant have been known to cause skin irritation.