heuchera

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At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Coral Bells or Alum Root, this genus of colorful-foliaged perennial plants needs full sun in cooler climates and partial shade otherwise. Provide with moderate to regular water to ensure good performance. These plants will attract birds to your garden. Leaves are rounded, sometimes with scalloped edges, and flowers are dainty and range in color from white to green to shades of red and pink. Use these plants in rock gardens, as groundcover, in mixed beds in front of shrubs, or as edging for beds. They also make wonderful additions to mixed container plantings.

Heuchera Species and Varietals

The best growing zones for Heuchera vary depending on the species grown. For more information, read the species descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Heuchera x brizoides
Best in zones 1-10 and 14-24, this species reaches 1-2.5 feet tall and1-1.5 feet wide, with spring or summertime flowers. The Bressingham Hybrids group offers plants with profuse blooms in shades of pink and red. Other varieties include 'Firefly' (also called Leuchtkafer, with fragrant scarlet flowers), and 'June Bride' (with large white blooms).

Heuchera Canyon Series
This group grows well in zones 2-11 and 14-24, and blooms in spring. These plants form a mat of foliage 3-6 inches tall and 1-2 feet wide (or more). Leaves are small and rounded. All variety names have 'Canyon' in them; the most popular are 'Canyon Delight' (with red flowers), 'Canyon Pink' (with pink blooms), 'Canyon Chimes' (dark pink), 'Canyon Duet' (with pink and white flowers), and 'Canyon Belle' (with red flowers).
Heuchera Hybrids
This group of Hybrid Heuchera varieties grow well in zones 1-9 and 14-24, and all have wonderful foliage. They reach about 1.5 feet tall and bloom in summertime on 2-3 foot tall stalks. Choice varieties are listed and described below.
'Amethyst Myst'
With deep burgundy new leaves that age to silver with dark purple veining.
'Caramel'
New foliage is dusky red and turn various shades of apricot before maturing to yellow-gold.
'Chocolate Ruffles'
Leaves are ruffled on the edges, and are dark brown on top with burgundy undersides. Flowers and spikes are purple.
'Chocolate Veil'
Brown leaves veined with silver and purple with purple undersides. Flowers are purple tinged with lime green.
'Citronelle'
This variety has chartreuse to lemon yellow leaves.
'Creme Brulee'
Foliage is peachy-orange and flowers are creamy-yellow.
'Crimson Curls'
Ruffled deep red leaves that fade to greyish green in summertime.
'Georgia Peach'
New leaves are peach colored, and mature through red tones to a rose-purple with dark veins and a silvery sheen.
'Ginger Ale'
Foliage is ginger-gold with silver markings and flowers are yellow and pink.
'Green Spice'
Foliage is silver-grey with dark green to purple veining.
'Lime Rickey'
Chartreuse leaves have ruffled edges.
'Mahogany'
Leaves are slightly ruffled at the edges, and are purple when new, maturing through mahogany tones before settling on a deep red.
'Marmalade'
Leaves are ruffled. New foliage is bright red, aging to orange and red-brown. Flowers are deep red.
'Miracle'
Chartreuse foliage splotched with burgundy tones matures to red edged with gold. Pale pink flowers.
'Moonlight'
Black-purple leaves have silver sheen, and flowers are pale green and a bit larger than other varieties.
'Obsidian'
Leaves are deep burgundy (almost black) with a silver sheen.
'Peach Flambe'
Apricot to peach leaves blush with purple in cooler weather.
'Persian Carpet'
Foliage is silver with dark purple veining and margins.
'Pewter Moon'
Silver leaves are maroon underneath. Blossoms are pink.
'Pewter Veil'
Silvery leaves have dark veining, and flowers are small and purple.
'Plum Royale'
Purple, shiny leaves have dark purple veins. Color is better in full sun exposure.
​'Ruby Veil'
Large silver leaves with red veining near leaf bases.
'Shenandoah Mountain'
Purple-bronze leaves have a silver sheen to them.
'Silver Scrolls'
Foliage is silvery with dark purple veins.
​'Snow Angel'
Light green leaves are marked with cream. Flowers are pink-red.
'Southern Comfort'
Large leaves are peach-orange when new, and mature to copper, amber, and peach.
'Stormy Seas'
Ruffled leaves have silver, lavender, and pewter tones with red undersides.
'Tiramisu'
Chartreuse foliage has red in the center when new, and leaves turn mostly red with a bright gold edge when mature.
'Velvet Night'
Deep blue-black-purple leaves have a silver sheen.
'Vesuvius'
Burgundy leaves and bright red flowers.

Heuchera maxima (Island Alum Root)
This species is best in zones 15-24 and is native to the Channel Islands. These plants reach 1-2 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide. Leaves are deep green and flowers are white-pink and bloom in early springtime. This species makes a great casual groundcover.

Heuchera micrantha
This species is best in zones 1-10 and 14-24, and is native to California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Leaves are grey-green and form mounds of foliage. Late spring to early summertime flowers are white to green and bloom in clusters. Varieties include 'Martha Roderick' (with bright green leaves and pink flowers), 'Painted Lady' (purple leaves marked with silver), 'Palace Purple' (rich brown to purple leaves), and 'Ruffles' (deeply lobed and ruffled leaves).

Heuchera Rancho Santa Ana Hybrids
This group of Heuchera hybrids grows well in zones 14-24 and are crosses between Heuchera maxima and Heuchera sanguinea. Foliage clumps reach 2-3 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide. Flower stems are 2-3 feet tall. Variety 'Genevieve' has green leaves with grey markings and pink flowers with white centers. Other varieties include 'Opal' (medium green leaves with white flowers), 'Santa Ana Cardinal' (with shiny dark green leaves and rose-pink flowers), and 'Wendy' (with light green leaves and medium pink flowers).

Heuchera sanguinea
This species grows well in zones A1-A3, 1-11 and 14-24. It is native to New Mexico and Arizona, and has scalloped edged leaves and slender flower stalks. Varieties include 'Cherry Splash' (with red flowers and white and gold variegated leaves), 'Frosty' (with silver-marked foliage and red flowers), 'Geisha's Fan' (silver leaves have purple veins), 'Snow Storm' (green leaves marked with white and red flowers), and 'White Cloud' (with light green foliage that has silver flecks and profuse white blooms).

Caring for cyperus

Propagation

Problems and Pests

Gallery

Camellias are great candidates to be grown as container plants on your patio.
A field of thea sinensis
Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'

Videos

A video all about growing camellias successfully
Propagating camellias

Resources

The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 277, Cyperus
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