Fringed Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia)Fringed Bleeding heart is a soft, graceful perennial that begins blooming in mid to late spring and often continues into early summer or beyond. It produces arching sprays of small, heart-shaped pink flowers that seem to float above fernlike leaves.
Native to the eastern United States, including northern New Jersey, fringed bleeding heart grows naturally in open woodlands, rocky slopes, and forest clearings. Its flowers provide nectar for native bees and other early pollinators, while its long-lasting foliage helps cover the ground and protect soil in shaded gardens. Bleeding heart has an interesting ecological relationship with ants, which help disperse its seeds by carrying them back to their nests, supporting natural plant spread in woodland ecosystems.
Compared with the well-known Asian bleeding heart often sold in garden centers, this native species blooms longer and blends more easily into natural landscapes, and it is more tolerant of dry shade than many woodland plants.