Bloomipedia
Pacific bleeding heart (Dicentra formosa)
Photo: giantcicada via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Pacific bleeding heart

Dicentra formosa

Pacific bleeding heart (Dicentra formosa) is a flowering plant in the Papaveraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Pacific bleeding heart is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.

4states where USDA records it
2Bloomipedia state lists include it
19,007U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Oregon, Washington

Quick look

Dicentra formosa is a species of flowering plant in the poppy family, Papaveraceae. With its fern-like foliage and inflorescence of drooping pink, purple, yellow or cream "hearts", this species is native to the Pacific Northwest of North America.

  • It belongs to the Papaveraceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 4 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Washington and Oregon. NatureServe
  • In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–July. iNaturalist
  • In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as early summer. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 1.5 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 7,593 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #12 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 6,292 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #5 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (4,885 records)
Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
WashingtonNativeApril–July7,593
OregonNativeApril–June6,292

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oregon. OAR 603-073-0070
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleToxic (moderate, per USDA)

USDA PLANTS rates its toxicity as “moderate.” (USDA's rating covers people and livestock and doesn't say which parts.) NC State Extension has no page for it. USDA PLANTS

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records Pacific bleeding heart in 4 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington.

Washington counties with USDA records: Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom, Whitman.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Wallowa, Washington, Yamhill.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Pacific bleeding heart a low shade tolerance, none drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.5 to 6.0 and winter lows down to -23 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
None
Moisture use
Low
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range
5.5 to 6.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
-23 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
200
Annual precipitation range
55 to 155 inches
Minimum root depth
6 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Rapid
Lifespan
Short
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Black · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, corm, cuttings, seed, tubers
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for DIFO. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 77 counties across 4 states; the most are in California (31), Oregon (23), Washington (22).

Other Dicentra on Bloomipedia (2): Dutchman's breeches, Squirrel corn.

More from the Papaveraceae family (16 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Bloodroot, California poppy, Greater celandine, Celandine poppy, Bush poppy, Yellow corydalis, Thistle poppy, Golden corydalis.

More Washington flowers

California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

California poppy

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★ CA state flowerNative

🌼 Blooms in WA: May–August
Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis)

Salmonberry

Rubus spectabilis

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🌼 Blooms in WA: March–May
Salal (Gaultheria shallon)

Salal

Gaultheria shallon

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🌼 Blooms in WA: May–July

Sources