Yes they will but if there are other plants available that have a higher nectar rate they will opt for those. In the northeast there usually aren't many nectar rich plants blooming when they arrive so they will use whatever is available to them.

Penny

Thank you.

I'm not sure of the nectar content. I've got a penta by my roses in full sun, I've planted some verbena I've gotten in trade. I've sown various seeds so we'll see what comes up. But I want to replace this rose bush that is in part shade to mostly shade and I figured the bleeding heart would work. I figured they might like it, since it had some cover to it.

If you can direct me to a better plant choice that takes shade, and that is easy to find in a nursery, I'd appreciate it.

I have a shade bed, and I've put bleeding heart, columbine, astilbe and hosta in it. My hummies went to the hostas before the bleeding hearts every time. But they really are pretty together. Also, hosta should be easier to find (walmart has tons right now) and are fast growers.

glo

If you can find a red or pink-flowering heuchera (coral bells), they can take a part sun position - particularly if it gets hot where you are. They often have lots of heucheras in the stores, but mostly for the foliage. Hopefully you can find some that have a nice bloom though. Also, they supposedly will nectar from the flowers on hosta scapes, and those are definitely shade plants.

I have the red flowered coral bells, hostas, native columbine and bleeding hearts. Bleeding hearts columbine bloom in spring for me. My hostas bloom mid summer and my coral bells bloom late spring to early summer. So they all bloom at different times in my yard. However I think that there are earlier blooming hostas.

All the above were planted in light to heavy shade.

Penny