Are we talking about your common bleeding heart, Dicentra spectabilis, or hardy fuchsias? If the dicentra, this can indeed become a large plant in time, but is particularly adapted to drier shade, so I doubt that is the reason for yours lankiness and collapsing. More likely just a reaction to the rather heavy rainfall we have experienced periodically over the last few weeks, although a client's dicentra I saw yesterday was majestic in full bloom at about 3' by 4' and showed no effect of rain damage. Staking may be appropriate for these. Pruning per se is not generally a solution for perennials in the peak of their bloom sequence, but can certainly be used to remove any damaged portions. I wouldn't be overly concerned about the hollow stems. Kerria is a woody shrub and rainfall should not be an issue. It is by nature very lax and leggy and arching in habit and if in heavy bloom, the weight of the flowers combined with the pressure of the rain could cause even more of a prostrate habit, but it will spring back easily. FWIW, hardy fuchsias are an entirely separate plant from dicentra/bleeding hearts and tend more towards a woody shrub (specially in our mild PNW climate) than a herbaceous perennial like dicentra. They are unaffected by heavy rainfalls and are only now starting to come back into full leaf.

Try this - get a small laundrey basket at the dollar store. Plant your bleeding heart in that and then plant the whole thing in the ground. You can leave the rim above ground as a border or cover it completely. In late fall/early winter the plant loses most of it leaves and looks real woody. You can remover the entire thing from the ground and prune both the top and the roots. Replant in same place. Fertilize it when you see new growth in the spring. It should be in full bloom by late spring.

Are you talking about a Clerodendron Tompsoniae? I have one that I prune into a shrub like shape. The branches are still soft but it's fairly round and is growing in a large pot. Karyn

If it's pretty hot where you are then most plants you put in that corner will simply burn; very narrow soil area bordered by concrete and a cream brick wall and not much air circulation. Really, I reckon on a hot, sunny day you could add perhaps another 10 to 20 degrees at ground level in that spot. The bleeding heart vine (Clerodendon thomsonii) is fairly hardy in warm sub-tropical to tropical climates and likes plenty of water in summer. Any reasonable garden soil will suit. I doubt you'll ever have much luck with one in that corner though. Something tougher might be more appropriate such as of the Agave or cactus families. You could also consider trying one the hardier Mandevilles or allamandas, might be worth a try. B.