Western bleeding heart is a small (15-50 cm tall) colonial herb that spreads by its roots. It has basal leaves that are divided 2-3 times into small angular ultimate segments. Several pendent rose-pink flowers arise from a central raceme. The pink outer petals are saclike, short-spurred at the base, and spreading at the tip; the inner petals are white. Western bleeding heart is commonly found in moist forests and along streambanks at low to middle elevations.