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How To Create A Hummingbird Haven With Bleeding Hearts
By LINDSAY DONALDSON
Consider planting bleeding hearts (Dicentra spectabilis) in your garden, as they’re one of the hummingbird’s favorite flowers and an exquisite complement to your flower beds.
The pendulous heart-shaped perennials bloom in spring, providing sustenance for hummingbirds for the rest of the summer into early fall as they, in turn, pollinate your garden.
Bleeding hearts are hardy in USDA zones 2 to 9, preferring partial shade, cool temperatures, and moist soil. They grow up to 2 feet, with branches reaching out as far as 3 feet.
The plants grow from a tuber and should be planted in the fall before the first frost. Established bleeding hearts in containers from nurseries can be planted after the last frost.
To prepare your soil for planting, loosen it up to 1 foot deep and add compost. Plant the tubers 1 inch deep and 2 feet apart, tamp the soil down lightly, and water thoroughly.
Add mulch to keep the moisture in and water weekly to make sure the soil never dries out. After blooming, you can deadhead the flowers or take cuttings to encourage a second bloom.