PerennialsDiscover the right perennial plants for your garden.
figure from top to bottom : Primo ® ‘ Pretty Pistachio ’ , Primo ® ‘ Mahogany Monster ’ , and Primo ® ‘ Black Pearl ’ . exposure by : Proven Winners
If you were to create a checklist for the perfect shade garden plant , coral bells ( Heuchera spp . ) would have nearly all the traits you could peradventure desire . Multi - season involvement ? Yes ! Striking leafage ? No interrogation ! Long - go flower ? Check ! Minimal maintenance ? dead ! legion color pick ? In jigaboo ! Plus , Heucheraplants are U.S natives that can tolerate a wide stove of our natural home ground : woodlands , prairie , mountain peaks , and arid climate .
“ Heuchera have go through a revolutionary transformation from your grandma ’s coral bells of years ago . With great diversity in leaf color and pattern , plant size , and flower functioning , there are many options for the home nurseryman in both sun and wraith , " says Hans Hansen , plant life breeder at Walters Gardens .
It ’s no wondercoral bellshave become one of the most pop perennials , with one C of selections and unexampled ones uncommitted every yr . genus Heuchera plants are also great for containers because not only do they provide year - cycle sake , but are drought resistant and do n’t psyche being confined .
On this Thomas Nelson Page : Basics|Planting and Growing|Care and Maintenance|Varieties|Ideas for Using in the Garden
CORAL BELLS BASICS
Zones:
4 - 9
Height:
Neat mounds range in height from 6 to 18 inch tall ; flower straw develop to 2 foot or taller .
Spread:
1 to 2½ feet
Exposure:
Best in bright or mottled shade .
Bloom time:
Late spring , former summertime to June 21
Color and characteristics:
Today ’s garden hybrid have colored leaves in just about every shade conceivable , some with marbleized pattern , striking veining , argent overlayer , and ruffled boundary . Tiny bell - shaped flowers rise up above the foliage , persuade on tall , wispy stem .
Dolce ® ‘ Appletini ’ in bloom . Photo by : Proven Winners
Are coral bells rabbit and deer resistant?
genus Heuchera plants are seldom bothered by deer and rabbits .
Heucheravs.Heucherella:
tight cousins , and from the same works family ( Saxifragaceae ) , are foamflowers ( Tiarella ) and foamy ship’s bell ( Heucherella ) . The latter is actually a man and wife ofTiarellaandHeucheraand has the same not bad foliage vividness but more marked bottlebrush - mold flowers .
PLANTING AND GROWING HEUCHERA
When to plant:
former leaping .
How to plant:
flora 1 to 2 foot apart ( depending on matured sizing ) , with the radix of the leaf even with or slightly above the land layer .
Growing from seed:
Although they will develop readily from semen , most varieties will not grow reliable to the parent works .
Growing in containers:
Plant them in a container that has good drain and with apotting mixthat drains freely . Keep the radical top slightly high than the grease rather than burying it profoundly . If you plan to winter your container - grow plant , give the heap some protection from cold wintertime temperatures and do n’t irrigate them when dormant .
CORAL BELLS CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Light requirements:
They are most colorful when grown in partial shade ( roughly 4 minute of direct sunlight daily ) . As a general rule , plant with pale leafage colors , like chartreuse or Ag , ask more tribute from sun photograph than those with drear empurpled or maroon tones . flora in cool climate can often abide more sun if given enough wet .
Soil requirements:
Your red coral bells works will grow full in humous - plentiful , well run out soil that is keep slightly moist . Avoid planting in soggy , wet soil , which can lead to cap rot . To help meliorate grime drainage and aeration , remediate enceinte garden soil with compost .
Watering:
Many are drought tolerant once they become launch ; however , due to their shallow roots , water your plants on a regular basis during summertime ironic spells , make believe sure they get about an inch of piddle a week . Generally , little to no watering is needed during spill and winter . To preclude sun scorching of the foliage , water at the theme of your plants to keep the leaves dry or water in the former morning .
Fertilizing:
Heuchera plants are not heavy feeder and will often do amercement if you apply a stratum of nourishing - racy compost around the plants in the outflow . Container - grown plants may call for a idle dose of all - purpose orslow - release fertilizer .
Dividing and transplanting:
Heucheras tend to be short - lived and benefit from beingdividedand transplanted sporadically , which will prolong their lifespan and also give you more plants for your garden . Every 3 to 4 years , dig up the existing root crown , separate the rooted offset , and then replant them , put away the old woody mall . The best clock time to transfer coral bell is in spring , or early enough in fall so they can become well - established before winter .
Pruning and deadheading:
After flower , remove the spent flower stalks at the foundation . This will earmark more energy for new foliage production and sometimes advance repeat blooming . Remove any dead or Lord’s Day - scorched leaf to keep the foliage looking goodly . Because food is stored in the leaf , do n’t rationalise them back in fall ; hold back until leap , just as new growth is starting to emerge .
Pests and diseases:
seldom a trouble , because coral bells plant have outstanding resistance to foliar diseases and pests .
Winter care:
Because they are shallow - rooted , rime heaving ( caused when the basis freezes and thaws ) is a unwashed job during the winter months , especially for older plants . If the woody root jacket crown of the plant is visible above the land level , you may readjust the plant by pulling out the root ball , placing it into a deep fix , and then covering the expanse with a few inches of compost . tip rot can also be a problem in winter if the grunge does n’t debilitate adequately .
VARIETIES OF CORAL BELLS
Photo by : Proven winner
Primo ® ' Black Pearl'—Buy now from Proven winner
Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Sun or shadeFoliage tallness / spread:8 to 10 inch tall , 26 to 30 inch wideFlower color : luminance pink
The near jet - bleak leaves with rose-cheeked purple bottom have their best color when originate in partial shade , but will refuse fade even in full Lord’s Day .
See the entirePrimo ® series .
Dolce ® ' Wildberry'—Buy now from Proven Winners
Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Sun or shadeFoliage height / spread:10 to 14 inches tall , 16 to 20 inches wideFlower people of color : White with pink calyx
Glossy purple leaves are accented by charcoal vein . Thrives in partial nuance , but will adapt to full shade .
2023 National Perennial of the Year
See the entireDolce ® series .
Primo ® ' Peachberry Ice'—Buy now from Proven achiever
Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Sun or shadeFoliage height / spread:8 to 10 inch tall , 18 to 24 inch tallFlower coloration : Creamy white
A beautiful way to sum up orange to your garden with its large silvery apricot - orange farewell with bright pink undersides . Colors mellow in the warmer months . Loves partial shade , but will also mature in sun , and is also table salt liberal .
Another popular orange heuchera loan-blend is ‘ Georgia Peach ’ .
Dolce ® ' Silver Gumdrop'—Buy now from Proven victor
Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Part spectre to shadeFoliage elevation / spread:6 to 8 column inch tall , 14 to 16 inch wideFlower color : Rose pink
More compact than most Heuchera , this variety work well in containers and small-scale spaces . When grown in shadier gardens , the metal foliage casts a adorable luminescent glow .
Primo ® ' Wild Rose'—Buy now from Proven Winners
Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Part shade to shadeFoliage tallness / spread:8 to 10 inch marvellous , 18 to 20 inches wideFlower coloration : Pink
Striking rose - majestic leave-taking , burgundy - pink wine prime stems and buds that give way to rose - pinkish flowers . Dusky wood coal - gray veining intensifies the foliage colour , making this plant a material standout in shadowed areas .
Primo ® ' Mahogany Monster'—Buy now from Proven Winners
Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Sun or shadeFoliage height / spread:12 to 16 inches marvelous , 32 to 38 inches wideFlower colouration : Ivory
Large , slenderly ruffled , mahogany - red leaves keep their color through the season and twist coppery as they age . They ’re slightly ruffled and can get up to 6 - inches wide . Light pink buds give way to whiten to ivory flowers . For a plant with interchangeable attributes , you’re able to also tryHeuchera‘Mahogany ’ .
Photo by : Stevenson / Shutterstock
Heuchera’Marmalade '
Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Part shade to full sunFoliage superlative / spread:10 inches improbable , 18 inches wideFlower color : White
extremely ruffled foliage array in color from umber to burnt sienna with brilliant hot - pink bottom . Even the stem are colorful — dark red , bearing an copiousness of tiny white flower . Performs equally well in sun and shade .
photograph by : GardenPhotos.com / Alamy Stock Photo
Heuchera’Citronelle '
Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Full nuance to partial sunFoliage height / spread:6 to 12 inches tall , 14 to 18 inches wideFlower color : White
Lighting up your garden ’s dark daub with bright lime tree greenish leave that slowly fades to bright chartreuse . Best in ghost , as full sun may bleach out and scortch the leaves .
Photo by : Anna Gratys / Shutterstock
Heuchera’Green Spice '
Zones:4 - 8Exposure : Partial to full sunFoliage height / spread:8 to 10 inches tall , 14 to 16 inches wideFlower color : blanched
Also good for brighten sinister position in the garden , the leaves have purple veins and are overlay with silvern tones . Also a good choice for containers , this variety provides a burst of contrast wtih foliage and summertime flowers .
Photo by : Walter ’s Gardens
Heuchera’Palace Purple’Heuchera micrantha
Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Partial shadeFoliage height / spread:12 to 18 inches marvellous and wideFlower colour : Blush whitened
Large , shiny leave vagabond in color from dark olive green to deep bronzy purple count on the sunlight . Best when grow in fond shade , which will keep the leaves from scorch and fading .
Heuchera’Caramel '
Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Partial to full sunFoliage top / spread:10 to 18 inches marvellous , 12 to 24 inches wideFlower color : White
A favorite , both for its foliage and resilience to high heat , humidity , and interchange atmospheric condition condition . Large scalloped leaves compass in color from apricot to golden caramel , with reddish - purpleness underside .
Featured in : Garden Design ’s Top 10 Garden Trends for 2022(“Designing with Dark Foliage " )
Pro Tip
" I ’m a softie forHeuchera(coral bell shape ) in the landscape painting and container . The chain of mountains of foliage colors is judgement blow and you ’d be heavily - pressed to find one that did n’t work with your design . I ’m especially fond ofDolce ® ' Wildberry’andDolce ® ' Silver Gumdrop ' . The flower , though small , float on farsighted stems above mounded foliation and are beloved by hummingbirds . Deer and rabbit resistant , Heucheratruly is a low criminal maintenance perennial that work in sunlight or shade . " — Heather , ofHereSheGrows
DESIGN IDEAS
update 9/23/21
