Fringed bleeding heart is a beautiful, native perennial plant occurring on forest floors, rocky woods and ledges in the Appalachian Mountains. It prefers rich, moist, well-drained soil and does not like wet winter soil. The fern-like foliage and blooms appear in spring and bloom time can continue into summer. In hot climates, it may stop blooming in summer and rebloom in fall. It can naturalize by seed dispersal by ants if happy so it does well in naturalized areas, native, rock and shade gardens. All parts of this plant are toxic if consumed in large quantities. This plant is classified as a NC Significantly Rare species. Family name Papaveraceae (formerly Fumariaceae) Quick ID Hints : Heart-shaped pink to purple flowers Fernlike, finely dissected, ternately decompound leaves Inflorescence erect-spreading, flowers pendulous Herbaceous perennial to 1.5', arching habit. Blooms late spring to fall; lacy foliage are fern-like in appearance; flower scapes bear numerous "hearts"; used in perennial garden, rock gardens, shade garden. Prefers moist, partial shade with good drainage; tolerates full sun if given plenty of water; pest/disease problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in. | Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Deltoid
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Soft
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are 2-pinnately divided with the ultimate segments deeply lobed and fern-like. Basal leaves ternately decompound and dissected, stem leaves dissected; fernlike and long-petioled.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Good Cut; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Panicle; Raceme
Flower shape
Urn
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
1/2 inch heart-shaped flowers in an elongated, terminal cluster are white or pale to deep pink. Bloom time is April to July with a possible fall bloom period. Erect-spreading, scapose or axillary raceme with secund flowers. Pink to purple, pendulous; sepals 2, minute; outer petals 2, heart-shaped, laterally compressed, pouched and spurred at base with tips reflexed; inner petals white and exserted.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Black; Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
The fruit a many-seeded capsule. Fruit becomes available July-August
Stem detail
Acaulescent or with upright stem.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
PA & WV, s. to NC & TN in mountains
Distribution
GA , IL , MA , MD , MI , NC , NJ , NY , OH , PA , SC , TN , VA , VT , WV
Trembling, staggering, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, labored breathing if eaten in large quantities. Skin irritation after repeated contact with the cell sap is mild and short-lasting.