Bleeding Heart vs Delphinium

Side-by-side plant comparison — which is right for your garden?

Bleeding Heart

Lamprocapnos spectabilis

Papaveraceae · flowers

Deer ResistantLow Maintenance

Delphinium

Delphinium elatum

Ranunculaceae · flowers

Deer ResistantHigh Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

Bleeding Heart (Zones 3-9)

Delphinium (Zones 3-7)

Overlap: Both grow in zones 3–7

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Bleeding Heart	Delphinium
Scientific Name	Lamprocapnos spectabilis	Delphinium elatum
Family	Papaveraceae	Ranunculaceae
Category	flowers	flowers
Sun	⛅ Part Shade	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Rich, Moist	Rich, Well-drained
Height	3'	6'
Spread	2'	2'
Bloom Season	Spring	Early Summer
Bloom Color	Pink, White	Blue, Purple, White, Pink
Growth Rate	Medium	Fast
Native Region	East Asia	Europe, Asia
Maintenance	Low	High

Special Traits

Bleeding Heart

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Delphinium

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Care Tips

Bleeding Heart

✓Plant ferns nearby to fill space when bleeding heart goes dormant.
✓Prefers cool, moist conditions.
✓Self-seeds in ideal conditions.
✓Toxic if ingested.

Delphinium

✓Stake tall varieties.
✓Cut back after first bloom for possible rebloom.
✓Needs cool summers — struggles in heat.
✓Slugs love young growth.
✓All parts are toxic.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose Bleeding Heart if you want a low-maintenance plant, and want deer resistance. It thrives in part shade with medium water in zones 3–9.

Choose Delphinium if you don't mind high maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 3–7.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 3–7. However, they have different sun needs, so plan your garden layout carefully.

View Bleeding HeartProfile →View DelphiniumProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Bleeding Heart and Delphinium grow in the same hardiness zone?

Bleeding Heart grows in USDA zones 3-9, while Delphinium grows in zones 3-7. Both plants can grow together in zones 3 through 7.

Do Bleeding Heart and Delphinium have the same sun and water needs?

Bleeding Heart needs part shade and medium water, while Delphinium needs full sun and medium water. Their differing requirements mean you may need separate garden areas for each.

Which grows taller, Bleeding Heart or Delphinium?

Delphinium grows taller at 6' compared to Bleeding Heart at 3'. Delphinium spreads 2' while Bleeding Heart spreads 2'.

Are Bleeding Heart and Delphinium deer resistant?

Yes, both Bleeding Heart and Delphinium are considered deer resistant, making them excellent choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Which is easier to maintain, Bleeding Heart or Delphinium?

Bleeding Heart has low maintenance while Delphinium has high maintenance. Bleeding Heart may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.

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Detailed Comparison

Feature	Bleeding Heart	Delphinium
Scientific Name	Lamprocapnos spectabilis	Delphinium elatum
Family	Papaveraceae	Ranunculaceae
Category	flowers	flowers
Sun	⛅ Part Shade	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Rich, Moist	Rich, Well-drained
Height	3'	6'
Spread	2'	2'
Bloom Season	Spring	Early Summer
Bloom Color	Pink, White	Blue, Purple, White, Pink
Growth Rate	Medium	Fast
Native Region	East Asia	Europe, Asia
Maintenance	Low	High

Care Tips

Bleeding Heart

✓Plant ferns nearby to fill space when bleeding heart goes dormant.
✓Prefers cool, moist conditions.
✓Self-seeds in ideal conditions.
✓Toxic if ingested.

Delphinium

✓Stake tall varieties.
✓Cut back after first bloom for possible rebloom.
✓Needs cool summers — struggles in heat.
✓Slugs love young growth.
✓All parts are toxic.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose Bleeding Heart if you want a low-maintenance plant, and want deer resistance. It thrives in part shade with medium water in zones 3–9.

Choose Delphinium if you don't mind high maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 3–7.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 3–7. However, they have different sun needs, so plan your garden layout carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Bleeding Heart and Delphinium grow in the same hardiness zone?

Bleeding Heart grows in USDA zones 3-9, while Delphinium grows in zones 3-7. Both plants can grow together in zones 3 through 7.

Do Bleeding Heart and Delphinium have the same sun and water needs?

Bleeding Heart needs part shade and medium water, while Delphinium needs full sun and medium water. Their differing requirements mean you may need separate garden areas for each.

Which grows taller, Bleeding Heart or Delphinium?

Delphinium grows taller at 6' compared to Bleeding Heart at 3'. Delphinium spreads 2' while Bleeding Heart spreads 2'.

Are Bleeding Heart and Delphinium deer resistant?

Yes, both Bleeding Heart and Delphinium are considered deer resistant, making them excellent choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Which is easier to maintain, Bleeding Heart or Delphinium?

Bleeding Heart has low maintenance while Delphinium has high maintenance. Bleeding Heart may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.