bleeding heart

—bleeding-heart, adj.

1. any of various plants belonging to the genus Dicentra, of the fumitory family, esp. D. spectabilis, a common garden plant having long, one-sided clusters of rose or red heart-shaped flowers.

2. a person who makes an ostentatious or excessive display of pity or concern for others.

[1685-95]

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Any of several species of Dicentra, a genus of herbaceous flowering plants of the fumitory family (Fumariaceae).

The old garden favourite is the Japanese D. spectabilis, which has small rosy-red and white, heart-shaped flowers dangling from arching stems. The eastern, or wild, bleeding heart (D. eximia) produces sprays of small pink flowers from April to September in the Allegheny Mountains region of the U.S. The Pacific, or western, bleeding heart (D. formosa), ranging from California to British Columbia, has several varieties of garden interest.

Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis)

Grant Heilman

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▪ plant

 any of several species of Dicentra, a genus of herbaceous flowering plants of the poppy family (Papaveraceae). The old garden favourite is the Japanese D. spectabilis, widespread for its small rosy-red and white, heart-shaped flowers dangling from arching stems about 60 centimetres (2 feet) tall. There is also a white form, D. spectabilis alba. The deeply cut leaf segments are larger than those of other cultivated species of Dicentra, such as the shorter eastern, or wild, bleeding heart (D. eximia), which produces sprays of small pink flowers from April to September in the Allegheny mountain region of eastern North America. The Pacific, or western, bleeding heart (D. formosa) of mountain woods, which ranges from California to British Columbia, has several varieties of garden interest.

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