HEUCHERA
(CORAL BELLS)
Heucheras are greatly appreciated as a foliage plant but they also bloom on long stems held above the foliage for 4-6 weeks every year. Heuchera sanguinea, one of the many species, is called Coral Bells because of its cerise flowers. It can be found in the warm, dry canyons of Mexico, New Mexico and Arizona. In the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States the plants grow best in shade.
There are 37 species of Heuchera in the family saxifragaceae. Some of those include, Heuchera americana, Heuchera villosa, Heuchera micrantha, all native and can cross together as well.
One of our favorite cultivars is Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’. It is a native Heuchera with large green leaves and tall white flowers. It blends beautifully with other plants.
The Heuchera americana ‘Dales Strain’ is one of several we grow from seed. It makes a very nice ground cover underneath other shrubs.
Try planting ground covers instead of mulching. They are just as effective, if not more so, at keeping out the weeds!
There has been an explosion of cultivars of Heucheras in the last decade. Hybridization is common, due to the fact that the species often intergrade with one another. Heuchera crossed with tiarella produced Heucherellas. Overall, there are a multitude of hybrids between the various Heuchera species.