Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Dicentra spectabilis

Dicentra spectabilis

9.9
A garden plant with deep pink, drooping, heart-shaped flowers often called bleeding heart
  • noun
  • /ˈdaɪˌsɛntrə spɛkˈtæbɪlɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Dicentra espectabilis
  • Many gardeners prize Dicentra spectabilis for its unique heart-shaped flowers and delicate foliage.

Examples

  • The Dicentra spectabilis in her garden bloomed early this spring, adding vibrant color to the beds.

  • He planted several Dicentra spectabilis along the shaded path to create a romantic, old-fashioned look.

  • The Dicentra spectabilis blooms beautifully in spring.

  • Have you seen the Dicentra spectabilis in the garden?

  • He planted several Dicentra spectabilis along the shaded path to create a romantic, old-fashioned look.

  • Many gardeners prize Dicentra spectabilis for its unique heart-shaped flowers and delicate foliage.

  • The Dicentra spectabilis in her garden bloomed early this spring, adding vibrant color to the beds.

Synonyms

bleeding heart
vsDicentra spectabilis
1 5.5

A garden plant with arching stems and drooping pink heart-shaped flowers

focuses on the plant's common name rather than stem shape
lyreflower
vsDicentra spectabilis
9.9

A garden plant with deep pink, drooping heart-shaped flowers grown for decoration

identifies the plant by its formal scientific name
lyre-flower
vsDicentra spectabilis
9.1

A garden plant with deep pink, drooping heart-shaped flowers

mentions the familiar common name rather than stressing ornamental use

Surface Forms

Dicentra spectabilis singular
Dicentra spectabilis plural

Morphology

Dicentra + spectabilis

This is a Latin binomial (genus + specific epithet). A learner who knows 'Dicentra' (a genus of heart‑shaped‑flower plants) and 'spectabilis' (Latin for 'showy' if known) can infer it denotes a notable/species of Dicentra (i.e. a plant), but they would not reliably derive the common name 'bleeding heart' or the full descriptive details from the constituents alone. Because the label partly signals category/appearance but relies on botanical/Latin knowledge and does not transparently yield the specific everyday meaning, it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Dicentra spectabilis is called 'bleeding heart' because its pink, hanging flowers look like small hearts with a little drop at the bottom. That image of a bleeding heart explains the name and helps you remember the plant.