There are a lot of plants that just look nice with bleeding hearts, but you're talking about something to specifically take the place of the plant, right? I'd love something like that too - ideally a perennial that's just coming up as the bleeding heart is dying down. Of course the other option is just to put in shade tolerant annuals like the coleus you're considering.

Nice photos, Paul. I will add a few, too. Patann, the Sutherland Gold Elderberry is awesome. At the same time I planted it, I also planted an Elderberry Black Beauty. It is a very slow grower, slow to leaf out in the spring and then just doesn't really do anything. In the photo below, you can see my Sambucus Sutherland Gold after 2 years...and you can hardly even make out the Sambucus Black Beauty to the left of the Sutherland) I've removed it now, and I also removed the lowest underbranches of the cedar behind it, so I've got a big opening there to stretch hostas back deep into the garden. By the way, that same year, I planted 3 more Black Beauties in another garden, and although 2 of them are alive, they also aren't thriving. That's why I call it a dud plant. There is a newer cutleaf black sambucus called Sambucus Nigra Black Lace. I haven't researched it, but the photos are gorgeous. I may try that in another spot and if it does well, consider adding it into my hosta bed. These are June photos. The Sutherland Gold has gorgeous bark and form. The buds are extremely beautiful before it even leafs out. Then, it has this wonderful chartreuse look that is very reminiscent of some of the Japanese Maples. I do wish they'd maintain their chartreuse throughout the summer , as it depreciates into a pretty darklime green in mid July. Overall, I'd give this shrub a 9.75 for ease and beauty. Here is a link that might be useful: black nigra black lace photos

"Rooting hormone will promote root growth & not the formation of eyes/new plants..." That is true, but 1) you need roots before shoots, and 2) mild rooting hormones won't prevent top growth. It won't hurt, and might help. If your bleeding heart has scales on the root sections, there might be hidden buds there already. I know Western Bleeding Heart (Dicentra formosa) has these scales all along the underground parts and will grow from cut pieces. I haven't tried bloodroot. Vincent

Heruga, You’re nice to help the residents, they must appreciate that! I purchased 3 more dicentra ‘alba’ this year, they have lovely pure white flowers. I also love the dicentra ‘valentine’ on which the flowers tend toward red rather than the clear pink. All are lovely! I have a golden foliage one, very pretty but it catches my eye, making me feel like it’s fall all summer long. (Our main fall color is gold). My problem isn’t that the dicentra turn brown (due to my cool climate, they stay green), rather they get terribly floppy and that’s why I’m moving them to deeper shade, we don’t have maples but lots of birch. i like calling them lady’s locket, doubt I’ll ever get used to lamprocapnos