Are “bleeding hearts” a hardy plant for southern Illinois?

Yes. Mine thrived in extreme weather here in the northwest.

I live in Grand Rapids MI- my bleeding heart must be twenty years old and blooms beautifully every spring. It completely dies back so don't think it is dead, it will come up again next year.

Of course it will! I have both pink and white ones and they are 15 or 20 years old and just get bigger and bigger each year. You can grow almost anything in southern Illinois--especially weeds, unfortunately. Bleeding heart is a shade plant but I have some that get quite a bit of sun and they do OK. The one on the north side of the house is the biggest but there is one on the west beneath a Japanese maple that is pretty big, too. And mine don't die back through the summer although they quit blooming and could probably be cut back. I don't bother, though, and they usually start dying back about September. Nice thing is, they don't need any care!

Yes, Bleeding Hearts are a beautiful and tough Perennial that will pop up every Spring. As the weather gets warmer, the blooms will drop and most of the leaves will turn yellow; at which time, just cut the fading blooms and leaves back and it will rest until next Spring. When most of the plant has died down, I just cut it all back to a few inches from soil level. Plant it in a shady location.

I live in eastern Ohio and have had the same bleeding heart plant for 15 years. I do nothing to it and it blooms beautifully year after year.

You’re quite welcome! Bleeding Hearts are a favorite of mine, plus Lily of the Valley and Sweet Woodruff ... all pretty Spring flowers and all Perennials.