Plant Focus: Heuchera
Striking foliage in a range of colours
Commonly known as coral bells, Heuchera is a semi-evergreen perennial that’s grown for its fantastic foliage. Native to North America, Heuchera is part of the Saxifragaceae family of plants, alongside others including Tiarella, Bergenia, and Astilbe. Plants within this family are usually perennial and herbaceous. The majority of plants within the Saxifragaceae family grow in woodlands, with others found in mountainous locations.
Heuchera is a lovely, low maintenance planting option that grows up to around 50cm in height. It forms a compact mound and works well for containers, borders, or groundcover. It usually keeps its wavy edged or scalloped foliage all year round, which comes in a wide variety of colours, including various shades of green, purple, red, silver, and even black. Whilst the foliage of Heuchera is the main attraction, it also produces small flowers on tall, slender stems, which bloom in late spring to early summer; these are loved by bees and other pollinators. Heuchera grows best in partial shade and thrives in well-drained soil. It remains a popular choice for both experienced gardeners and novices alike, due to its adaptability and attractive appearance.
Key Characteristics of Heuchera:
✓ Mound forming perennial
✓ Semi-evergreen
✓ Up to 50cm in height
✓ Grown for its attractive foliage
✓ Flowers from late spring to early summer
✓ Ideal for borders, containers, and groundcover
✓ Works well as part of a cottage garden scheme
✓ Prefers partially shaded spots
✓ Dislikes waterlogged soil
Fun Fact
The name Saxifraga means “rock breaker”. This is associated with a number of species within this plant family, which are able to grow on exposed rock.
Our favourite Heuchera varieties
Heuchera americana
Heuchera americana is an evergreen, clump-forming perennial that grows up to 50cm. Its foliage are veined brown when they emerge, and change to dark green with coppery veins as it matures. The nectar-rich flowers of Heuchera americana can attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. On tall stems, tiny, brown-green flowers emerge in spring.
Heuchera ‘Caramel’
A vibrant variety with foliage which starts off in pale shades of red and orange, and turn caramel over time, with pale pink flowers emerging in summer. Ideal for planting in borders to create contrast with surrounding plants, and great for groundcover. Heuchera ‘Caramel’ thrives in partial shade to full shade conditions and benefits from regular watering, but shouldn’t sit in waterlogged soil.
Heuchera ‘Key Lime Pie’
This Heuchera variety stands out for its vibrant lime green foliage. Small white flowers bloom on tall stems from spring to summer. Heuchera ‘Key Lime Pie’ is perfect for adding a splash of colour to any landscape.
Heuchera ‘Caramel’
Heuchera americana
Heuchera ‘Key Lime Pie’
Heuchera ‘Lime Marmalade’
Heuchera micrantha ‘Palace Purple’
Heuchera ‘Lime Marmalade’
This semi-evergreen Heuchera forms a neat mound with ruffled, lime green leaves; it may retain some of its leaves during winter. Heuchera ‘Lime Marmalade’ also produces small white flowers in June, which rise above the foliage, attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
Heuchera micrantha ‘Palace Purple’
Heuchera micrantha ‘Palace Purple’ has deep purple glossy leaves and pale pink flowers which bloom in early summer. It provides a striking contrast when combined with other plants because of the vibrant colouration of its foliage. Ideal for planting at the front of a border, and it is best grown in partial shade as direct sunlight can scorch the leaves and cause its colour to fade.
Heuchera ‘Plum Pudding’
This is a compact perennial that boasts plum purple veined leaves, with a dusting of silver-grey. This makes it an attractive variety of Heuchera, and is ideal for planting within a rock garden to add contrast with its vibrant colour. It also features tiny white flowers which are common to most Heuchera varieties.
Heuchera ‘Plum Pudding’
How to care for Heuchera
To keep the plant looking its best and promote new growth, remove any dead or discoloured leaves. Additionally, when the flowers wither, trim their stems just below the foliage level. These simple steps are all that’s required to prune your Heuchera, to ensure it stays in prime condition and continues to thrive.
It is important to water Heuchera regularly and keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged. To ensure that Heuchera stays healthy all year round, during winter, apply a layer of mulch over the plant. This helps to protect its roots from freezing temperatures and prevents potential damage to the plant.
Which pests and diseases are Heuchera affected by?
Heuchera is predominantly healthy and low maintenance, but can be susceptible to various pests and diseases, such as vine weevil, heuchera rust, and leaf scorch.
Vine weevils are small beetles which can harm the plant by feeding on its leaves and roots. Their larvae feed on the plant’s roots, causing permanent damage and potential death of the plant. If only part of the plant has been affected, the wounds can be disinfected with copper, or biological nematode treatments, such as Nemasys. If the whole plant has been affected however, it must be cut completely to stop vine weevil from continuing to spread.
Heuchera rust is a fungal disease that affects the Heuchera genus; it causes orange or rust coloured spots on the foliage. This is more likely to occur when the plant’s leaves remain wet for extended periods, especially in humid conditions. To minimize the risk of Heuchera rust, it is important to plant heuchera in well-drained soil with good air circulation. Additionally, it’s recommended to water the plants at the base, rather than overhead, to prevent excessive moisture on the leaves. If you notice any diseased leaves, you should remove and burn them, as Heuchera recovers quickly and will soon appear rust-free.
Leaf scorch is where the edge of the plant’s leaves become brown and dry due to water stress or other environmental factors. To prevent this, make sure to regularly water the plant at its roots, whilst avoiding overwatering, to ensure the soil doesn’t become waterlogged. Mulching can help retain moisture, as well as providing shade during hot periods. The pruning of dead or damaged leaves is also essential to help avoid leaf scorch.
If you’d like more information about the Heuchera varieties which we grow and supply, get in touch with the G Team today.