Bleeding Heart

Uncommon · Dicentra spectabilis

Alchemical · Magical · Poisonous

Terrain Forest, Hills, Mountains

Description

Dicentra is a decorative perennial plant of the poppy family, standing 10–40 inches (30– 100 cm) tall. It is characterized by delicate, lacy leaves and unusually shaped flowers that resemble hearts, gathered in hanging clusters.

Location and Habitat

In the wild, dicentra is found in East Asia and North America, growing in forests, on slopes, and at forest edges. In gardens, it is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant.

Rarity and Availability

In the wild, it may be rare, but as a garden plant, dicentra is very popular and readily available.

Effects and Uses

It is used primarily to adorn flower beds and gardens. In folk medicine, it is rarely used since parts of the plant can be poisonous.

Harvesting & Preparation

• A DC 10 Wisdom (Nature) check or Wisdom (Survival) check identifies the plant by its delicate, heart-shaped flowers hung in pendant clusters.

Items & Effects

• “Jeannette’s Kiss” Elixir. A bittersweet brew distilled from carefully harvested Dicentra petals.
  • Creation. Requires 1 hour, a DC 12 Wisdom (herbalism kit) check, and fresh blossoms collected at dawn. One batch yields 1-2 doses.
  • Use (Ingested).
    • Heartfelt Resolve. For 1 hour, the creature gains advantage on saving throws against charm effects.
    • Momentary Euphoria. Once during this hour, when you succeed on a saving throw against a charm or fear effect, you can choose to gain 5 temporary hit points (representing an emotional surge).
• Heartbreak Talisman. A small locket or charm fashioned from a dried dicentra bloom, said to trap the echo of one’s deepest sorrow.
  • Creation. Requires 8 hours of crafting, a DC 14 Charisma (Persuasion) check or Charisma (Performance) check to “imprint” strong emotions into the talisman.
  • Use (Worn).
    • Shield of Sorrow. When you are targeted by a harmful enchantment or illusion spell (e.g., hold person, phantasmal force), you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the caster's spell attack or gain advantage on the saving throw. Drawback: The talisman feeds on heartbreak. Each time you use it to protect yourself, roll a d6. On a 1, it refuses to shield you again until you finish a long rest.
    • Radiant Empathy. Once per long rest, you can invoke the talisman to cast calm emotions (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier; PHB p. 221) without expending a spell slot.
• “Sorrow’s Fragrance” Poison. A mild toxin derived from the plant’s roots and sap.
  • Creation. Requires a DC 13 Intelligence (poisoner’s kit) check and 2 hours of preparation. One success yields 1 vial.
  • Effects (DC 13 Constitution saving throw). 1. On a failed save, the victim becomes incapacitated (PHB; p. 290) with overwhelming melancholy for 1 minute, unable to take actions or reactions besides speaking in disjointed, sorrowful babbling. 2. On a success, the victim is not incapacitated but has disadvantage on attack rolls for 1 minute due to lingering sadness.
  • Antitoxin. A DC 10 Medicine check or lesser restoration (PHB, p. 255) can end the effect prematurely.

Lore

Dicentra translates from Greek as "two-spurred"—if you look closely, you can see two spurs on the sides of the flower. In France, it is known as "Jeannette's Heart"; in Poland, "Our Lady's Slipper"; in the Netherlands, "Dutchman's Breeches"; and in Germany, "Lady's Locket."

The French have a legend about a beautiful girl named Jeannette. The young Frenchwoman Jeannette went into the forest to pick berries and lost her way. If she moved left, a high hedge of thickets blocked the path. Frightened, she began to call for help.

"Good people!" cried Jeannette. "Show me the way... Don't leave me in trouble, help me!.."

From Witch’s Herbs 5E, p. 20 · Fern Flower Press