The Bleeding Heart I know, Dicentra spectabilis is a herbaceous perennial, which means it goes completely dormant in the winter. Up here, it even goes dormant in the summer, after putting on its magnificent show in the spring. It grows to about 60cm (24") in height when it blooms. I've never seen it grown on little trellises.

There is however, the Yellow Climbing Bleeding Heart, Dicentra scandens, which is a vine, but it's quite rare.

Thanks for your reply, coolplantsguy. So, I should look for spectabilis, then. The ones i saw at the local store were exactly the same as the pictures in this thread:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/vines/msg0512074821641.html

Here is a link that might be useful: Bleeding Heart Vine pictures thread

Thats a lovely vine. That thread refers to it as Clerodendrum thomsoniae -- which is a totally different plant than Dicentra.

That's the trouble with common names... they represent common usage, often geographically based, but do not represent the botanical entity very well.

Perhaps in your zone Dicentra (bleeding heart perennial) is not as prevalent as Clerodendrum vine so there is less confusion at the local level re-using the name Bleeding Heart. Actually Dicentra may not even be appropriate for zone 9.

Or often the grower invents a name that will sell better than the real name. "Bleeding heart" will grab a lot more people at nurseries than "Clerodendrum."

Common names are such a pain.

That particular Clerodendron has been known as Bleeding Heart Vine for many years but the plant itself isn't common throughout the country because it is subtropical. I have it in old houseplant books from the 1960's but have rarely seen it in person.

It is definitely a vine. There are shrub and tree Clerodendrons though. One called Harlequin Glory Bower is in bloom here right now. Amazingly fragrant.

You are all correct! I went to 3 more nurseries and verified that what they sell as Bleeding Heart here in North California is indeed "Clerodendrum thomsoniae". So, it is not a Dicentra at all.