Bleeding Heart is a perennial that can grow to 18 inches tall and blooms during late spring and early summer and  with ample rainfall it will bloom all summer long.   It prefers moist humus soils in part shade. It will self seed in these ideal conditions.  Pink heart shaped flowers protuding from petals appear to form a drop of blood at the bottom of each heart shaped flower.

The Cherokee made a tea from the roots to heal weakness and depletion of energy from intestinal worms.  They also chewed the roots for toothache as it numbed the gums and mouth.