The heuchera makes a comeback

by Helen M. Scott
Wednesday, June 20, 2007 1:07 PM MDT

Heucheras are amazing little plants. Commonly known as alum-root or coral bells, the heuchera has nearly 55 species.

The original of these plants, cultivated in gardens since the mid 1600s, had green marbled leaves, and our mothers and grandmothers probably referred to them as coral bells. These long-lived strains probably still exist in the hybridized later versions of the modern heuchera.

In recent years, heucheras have seen an explosion of new cultivars since the very first ones came on the gardening scene, and no plant has undergone such a dramatic resurgence in the garden.

Heucheras are loved and admired for their diverse leaf shapes, relatively low maintenance and ability to fit in any garden. What makes them so attractive are leaves of deep shades of greens, white, reds, oranges and pinks.

Heucheras seem to do best in shade gardening, but it doesn’t stop there. There are heucheras for sun or part sun, heucheras for well-drained soil and heucheras for damp soils.

It is said that heucheras seem to do poorly in a dry year, and don’t seem to do as well in compact clay soil. However, in my shady yard with heavy compact soil, this tough little plant puts up an impressive and admirable fight.

Heucheras actually will do best in the shady garden with well-drained soil, or in a damp, sunny garden of well drained soil with a layer of mulch. Working organic matter into the soil helps to ensure a nice display.

Heuchera leaf color will be darker and bolder in shady or partly shady areas and will fade out in full heat and sun. In addition, the plant is prone to sun burning when the plant is exposed to too much hot sun.

These plants add interest and texture to the perennial bed for their compact, mounding shapes with their wonderful frilly leaves, and they are indeed a pleasure to admire. Removing old flowers usually will result in re-blooming.

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