How to prune bleeding heart

Summer, once foliage has fully yellowed and died back naturally; deadhead immediately after flowering in spring if desired. When foliage is entirely yellow and limp, cut all stems to within a few inches of the ground. Deadhead by removing flower stems at their base once blooms finish. Allow gap-filling perennials to mask the bare patch left by summer dormancy.

Once annually when dormancy is complete; deadhead as needed in spring. Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) dies back naturally after summer heat. Deadhead spent flowers if you want to reduce self-seeding, though the arching stems remain attractive until dormancy. Cut the whole plant to ground level once foliage has yellowed and collapsed in summer. Do not cut back while still green — leaves feed the roots.

When foliage is entirely yellow and limp, cut all stems to within a few inches of the ground. Deadhead by removing flower stems at their base once blooms finish. Allow gap-filling perennials to mask the bare patch left by summer dormancy.