Dicentra spectabilis?

Lilies do quite well in partial shade.

KarinL

Probably get better responses on the Annuals or Perennials Forums since it's a plant selection, as opposed to design, question. I've got some astilbe (along with hostas and ferns) in the same general area as my bleeding hearts. My traditional pink bleeding heart disappears, but the D.Spectabilis "Alba" stays intact pretty much all season.

I can't really think of anything for shade that would just be emerging as your bleeding hearts are going. Try some annuals: Impatiens would work as an underplanting. Or you could use wax or tuberous begonias or the showy caladiums.

I've seen Anemone hupehensis recommended for that purpose.

Thanks. Yes, they are spectabilis. Another issue that I didn't mention is that I don't water there and therefore it's dry which rules out astilbe and most annuals I think. Maybe I can go with the lilies which I have had there before. They don't bloom but they do keep it green!
Nancy

Here's a sampling of the companion plants that I have planted amongst Dicentra: Phlox divaricata, Columbine, Epimedium, Rhodea, Hydrangea, Selaginella braunii, Iris tectorum, Saxifraga stolonifera, Scilla siberica, Scilla campanulata. I don't grow hostas because the deer won't let me, but use Rhodea in a similar manner.

Won't lilies create the same "what to plant in front" question once the foliage starts to die back? They bloom, the candelabrum get off and in pretty short order the stalks begin their decline and aren't the most attractive things in the bed.

Seems this might be one of those it depends situations, but if your ferns and hostas thrive in these dry, shaded conditions, asilbe would too. As would the ubiquitous Stella d'Oro daylily as opposed to lilium varieties - the bloom wouldn't be profuse, but the foliage stays green and upright/arching. How about helebores? Aren't they supposed to be tough perennials keeping their foliage all season?

I thought hostas typically served that purpose--but maybe you are finding that they come up too soon? What about trying some of the mini- or low-growing hostas, along with the shade-tolerant lilies as suggested? Smaller hostas would not compete as much with the bleeding hearts.

Figure out what "comes up" at the right time for your zone and the micro-climate in your planting bed.

After years of trying this and that, I finally solved this problem by putting a container with a large hosta in the visual hole created by the die-back of the D. spectabilis. Actually it is a matched pair of Chippendale-style boxes on legs on each side of a bench. It makes quite a nice feature and looks as if I planned it all along. The fact that they are on legs allows light and moisture to reache the dormant bleeding hearts.

You could consider a garden ornament or some other feature that is not a plant. Then you don't have to worry about the plants competing for space.

I agree...there really aren't any perennials that will be coming up right when the BH are dying back. I like the idea of putting potted plants there. You can splurge and get some great looking pots.

Thank you for all of the great recommendations. I have been out of the garden for a few weeks (sometimes life interferes with the gardening but I am back and due to a significant heat spell here in Westchester NY, my bleeding hearts are yellowing. When can I cut them down?? I think that I will start some brunnera, small hosta and a few othe plants and see what takes because I like large drifts.
Thanks,
Nancy (zone 5/6)

Don't forget about fernleaf bleeding hearts . They are lower to the ground and therefore can be interplanted AND they bloom ALL season for me! Corydalis too....

I’m thinking of fall crocus or the rodent resistant colchicum to bloom in fall when old fashioned bleeding hearts are fading yellow or dormant by Sept. I agree that bleeding heart is best in large groups or. If lucky, after the plant gets old and large.