Heuchera are versaitile foliage plants that suit a wide range of situations and can really add texture and colour to your garden or container displays throughout the year. They can be used as filler plants between herbaceous perennials and in the cases where such perennials die down over winter, many varieties of heuchera will still remain standing and provide some interest in the autumn, winter and early spring. They are also perfect for use under and around larger shrubs or roses, can be grown in pots individually or to produce a contrasting foliage backdrop to other more showy plants in a container display. You can even devote an entire section of a bed to a mixture of heuchera varieties to create an attractive mosaic of shades and contrasting foliage. Whilst the foliage of these plants is the main draw, they also produce stems of delicate dangling flowers, usually pink or white, from spring into summer, giving them their common name 'Coral Bells'. Some varieties have been bred to make the most of the flowers, like Heuchera Paris which has lovely rose pink flowers that contrast with the silvery, textured foliage beneath. As for the leaves these can come in colours of deep purples, reds, bright orange, silver and even acidic lime green with various degrees of veining and texture.
Where and How to grow:
Heuchera are happy in most soils that have reasonable drainage, they won't sit well in heavy clay as if they become waterlogged they can get root-rot but they will tolerate a bit of drought from time to time. You'll know they definitely need watering if the leaves start to dry out and crisp. The numerous varieties with various colours means that there is bound to be an option to compliment many of your garden plants or container displays and their compact low growing nature makes them ideal fillers that won't overcrowd their neighbours.
Generally heucheras require moist but well-draining to well-drained soil in partial shade (which is why they are also great for underplanting shrubs or planting around trees etc) although it has to be said the darker leaved varieties will also tolerate full sun. The lighter varieties such as lime green, tend to scorch in full sun and so are best used to brighten up a shady area of the garden or patio.
As heuchera are naturally woodland plants, it's a good idea to recreate their ideal home when planting, so it is advised to add a good bit of organic matter (compost or leaf mulch) and dig it into the whole surrounding area (not just the pot hole) when planting and maybe add a mulch once or twice a year.
In terms of the planting itself, this will be similar to other perennials:
- Once the ground is prepared, dig a hole as deep as the pot they are in and up to twice as wide.
- Remove the plant from its pot, loosening any roots that may have become pot-bound (it's always good practice to give the pot a good watering an hour or so beforehand).
- Position the root-ball to the centre of the hole, making sure that the ground is level with the soil level in the pot – be sure not to plant it any deeper.
- Once positioned, you can then start to backfill the hole, gently firmly the plant in give it a good watering.
Heuchera care:
Heuchera are very low maintenance plants that will put up with dry spells however, once initially planted, it is best to keep them well watered during dryer periods until they are established. Other than that they will benefit from a good mulch once or twice a year, just applying some organic matter in spring and maybe in the autumn.
Propagation:
Heucheras are best propagated by division in late spring. Dig up the plant and separate off some vigorous sections from the edge, ensuring there are several roots and good healthy shoots on each piece. It is best to plant these on into pots of free-draining compost for which you can just use a general multi-purpose, mixed with grit at a ratio of 3:1 (or 25% grit). Place these in a shady spot and keep the soil moist and when you can see obvious roots emerging from the bottom of the pot, lift the plants, check you have a healthy root system and then you're ready to plant these out.
Heuchera Companions
As already mentioned, these are versatile fellas and can be used to plant amongst any number of perennials and shrubs. That said they look particularly well planted in groups of mixed varieties to produce a colourful mosaic and exceptional when mixed amongst other shade lovers like hostas, astilbes and brunnera, where varieties with contrasting foliage can really make these partners pop.
Cover Image - Heucheras at Gardeners World Show - Andy Mabbet (GFDL)
