Heuchera
This perennial is commonly called “Coral Bells” due to the bell shape of its flowers. The other common name for this genus is Alumroot which refers to the medicinal use of this plant as an astringent to the bleeding of wounds. This genus of plants is comprised of more than 50 different species and they are hardy from zone 3 to 9 depending on the species and cultivar. Coral bells are perennials and are native to the Russian far east, Canada, Mesico and the United States. If you are wanting to add some bold colors to your garden, Heuchera’s might be just the plant you are looking for.
These showy plants are grown for their leaf color and range from yellow to purple to brown and various shades in between. Coral bells have white to pink flowers that start to bloom in June and continue through the growing season. Be sure to deadhead the spent flowers to encourage a longer bloom time. These perennials can be grown in the sun or in the shade depending on the cultivar but they will develop their best leaf color in the sun. Coral bells will need divided regularly, approximately every three to four years, otherwise they can be a fairly short-lived perennial.
There are relatively few disease or insect issues for this perennial however leaf scorch can become an issue during hot dry weather if the plants are planted in full sun. Some varieties can get powdery mildew however if adequate airflow is provided it is rarely a problem. Coral bells are not particularly aggressive spreaders and can be crowded out by more aggressive plants. These plants grow well as an edge plant in perennial borders or in clustered in groups throughout a planting.
