With so many great colors to choose from–purple to orange to lime green, many with interesting variegation and texture–there’s a Heuchera for every garden.
They look good in mass plantings or as border edges, and make fantastic container plants. Bright, nearly–evergreen foliage and ease of care make them invaluable as a shade plant. There are a myriad of cultivars to choose from that will grow in almost any garden situation. Most varieties will grow in full sun in the Pacific Northwest, except those with white (frosted) or yellow–toned leaves which can bleach and burn in the sun.
Conversely, Heucheras will become leggy, pale in color and less floriferous in full shade. Varieties which perform best in dense shade include the lime cultivars such as ‘Lime Ruffles’ and ‘Lime Marmalade’, the shimmering ‘Spellbound’, glowing red ‘Fire Chief’, classic green and burgundy ‘Green Spice’ and the green and white ‘Snow Angel’.
Heucheras are usually grown for their strikingly colorful rounded or fringed leaves, with more attention is being paid to the flowers in recent breeding efforts. Flower stalks rise from about 12” to 24” above the plant mound with sprays of small bell–shaped flowers in white, peach, pink, or even bright red. They make a very nice addition to floral arrangements.
Some lovely flowering varieties include Paris, Bella Note, Lipstick, Ginger Ale and Cherry Cola.
Locally here in Oregon, Dan Hines of Terra Nova Nurseries is known for introducing new cultivars of Heuchera. To view the dazzling array of colors and textures visit Terra Nova’s website. The new cultivars coming out are hybrids of the species native to North America. Recent additions have included dwarf cultivars perfect for containers and small spaces. They are truly "Little Cuties".
Some of our favorites include:
This is a popular cultivar of the native Heuchera here in Oregon (H. micrantha) with deep purple–red leaves and stems and sprays of small white flowers. It is one of the older Heuchera cultivars and has proven itself a solid garden plant. Plant it in full to part sun where is will form a clump about 12 inches tall and wide with flowers stalks between 15 and 24 inches.
Purple leaves with dark purple veins.
Short purple pink flowers in spring.
Tolerates full shade to full sun.
Grows 12-22"h by 15" wide.
Silver leaves with dark edging and bright red veining make this shade-lover really stand out! A bonus is the lovely fall color, in shades of peach and orange. 16” wide by 9” tall, with 2 foot flower stalks.
Need a punch of color in your shady spot? This chartreuse Heuchera will really pop! Part shade to shade. 24”” wide by 10” tall, with 16” white flower stalks.
Wavy, amber-peach foliage with bright fuchsia undersides adorn this vigorous Heuchera. Performs well in sun or shade. 18” wide mounds are 10” tall with 16” flower stalks.
Gorgeous purple leaves with dark-pink speckles adorn this Heuchera variety. Pink speckles appear in spring and get larger as the season progresses, perhaps eventually fading to a cream color. ‘Midnight Rose’ thrives in the full sun and forms a clump 16 inches wide by 10” tall with a 24” flower stalk. This is a sport of the popular H. ‘Obsidian.’
Black colored plants have become extremely popular lately, and this variety has been a valuable addition to that trend. Purpley-black leaves hold their color in shade or sun. 16” wide mounds reach about 10” tall, with flower stalks to 24” tall.
One of our all time favorites (although Ginger Peach may be one to rival) with its eye-popping, smooth peach and burgundy leaves. Great in full sun to part shade. 7” tall, flowers to 16”, 14” wide.
A popular variety, ‘Plum Pudding’ has purple-bronze leaves with green overtones and nice veining. Does best with a little sun exposure. To 16” wide and 9” tall, with flower stalks to 2’.
Unique white and green mottled leaves. Lovely sprays of light pink flowers. Grows in part sun to full shade. 8” tall flowers to 12” 12” wide.
Inventory varies daily January-December. Please contact us for current availability.
Family: Saxifragaceae
Genus: Heuchera (HEW-ker-ah)
Common Name: Coral Bells, Alum Root
Origin: About 55 species from North America and Mexico
Culture: Heuchera are hardy in the Northwest (zones 4-9), mostly evergreen, and usually like afternoon shade with well-drained soil.
Heuchera bloom early spring to late summer in shades from red to pink to white and make great cut flowers. Once established they can be drought-tolerant, but they enjoy regular water. Some of the purple and green leaved cultivars will handle full sun. The top four ways to kill a Heuchera are burying the crown, improper watering, planting in very heavy soil and growing in too low light.
Pests and Diseases: Root weevils can be problematic by feeding on the roots. This can be treated with nematodes at the correct soil temperatures. Mealy-bugs can also be a pest.
Maintenance: Heuchera are easy to care for and low maintenance. Dead-heading flowers (removing the spent blossoms) prolongs the bloom time.
Also, if the plants get a dry period in the summer, it might be necessary to cut off some the outer leaves if they start to look bad. During the winter, the plant may shrink to a smaller rosette and the dead outer leaves should be removed. If your heuchera forms a taller crown, it is time to divide it.
Additional qualities: Evergreen, deer resistant, attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
Propagation: Heuchera need to be divided every three to four years and are easily propagated from young rootstock. Just dig it up, take the young, vigorous roots and discard the old woody rootstock and replant. The best time to do this is in the spring.
We have a wonderful selection of perennials year round, but if you are looking for a specific perennial we will have the best selection when it is in bloom around town. Note: Native plant pages will take you into the Native Plant section.
