Plant Spotlight: Coral Bells (Heuchera)

• Mulch around the crown well in winter. This will prevent winter heaving.
• You may need to dig and replant the crown higher after the plant has leafed out in the spring to avoid too much moisture affecting the plant.

Heuchera, commonly referred to as Coral Bells and sometimes Alumroot, are a perennial mostly grown for their folliage instead of flowers. These easy care perennials come in a wide range of colors. All have scalloped -shaped leaves. Most of the Heuchera sold in garden centers for the home garden are hybrids of the H. americana cultivar.

Zones: 4 through 9

Grows Best In: Full to Part Shade. Some newer varieties can take full sun, but check plant tag to make sure.

Size: Up to 2 feet tall and wide

Bloom Time: Late Spring

Bloom Color: White or Pink

Foliage Time: April through November

Soil: Dry to Moderate. Does not tolerate extremely wet soils.

Heuchera are so named for the man who discovered them, Johann Heinrich von Heucher (1677-1746) who was an 18th century German Physician.

Because of excessive hybridization, Heuchera can be found in a wide variety of colors and leaf textures. There are around 83 commercialized hybrids on the market today. Some of the most popular colors available are:

• Lime Green
• Caramel
• Burgundy
• Fire Red
• Purple
• Grass Green
• Green and White Variegated

Since Heuchera are best grown in partial to full-shade, these are popular filler plants grown under trees and in combination with Hosta. Growing under trees in particular can be difficult for many plants because it is usually dry shade, but Heuchera perform well in those conditions and even thrive.

Even though they are grown for their foliage, they do send up delicate little flowers in late spring that add to their cottage charm. Because they grow relatively short, they are perfect for placing at the front of a planting bed or along a pathway where visitors can admire their interesting colors and textures.

There are 12 cultivars that were awarded the Royal Horticultural Societies Award of Merit?

• 'Blackbird'
• 'Burgundy Frost'
• 'Can-Can'
• 'Chocolate Veil'
• 'Fireworks'
• 'Magic Wand'
• 'Molly Bush
• 'Purple Petticoats'
• 'Quilter's Joy'
• 'Raspberry Regal'
• 'Sashay'
• 'Smokey Rose'

In short, yes you can! If your well-established Heuchera is getting too big or you simply want to create more plants, the best time to do so would be in the spring after they have fully leafed out. That way, they have all summer and fall to get their roots established before winter comes. Don't be discouraged after a full season goes by and your divisions are still looking small. In the perennial world, it typically takes 3 seasons for plants to put out their full and mature growth, so keep that in mind.

Some of these shade-loving plants, when combined with Heuchera can give your planting bed a nice variety of color, height and texture:

• Hosta
• Lady's Mantle
• Ferns
• Astilbe
• Columbine
• Brunnera
• Lamium
• Lobelia
• Bleeding Heart

As you can see, the humble Heuchera is a great perennial to use in your garden with other plants or use alone combining many different shades of Heuchera for a dramatic effect!

Don't forget to visit some of my other 'Plant Spotlight' hubs. Happy Gardening!