Heuchera are popular plants in NZ gardens due to their impressive foliage and elegant flowers. They are generally trouble free, easy to grow, and very rewarding. Their versatility for growing in pots, for borders, and including in mixed plantings makes them well sought after. Follow our tips to get the most from your Heuchera plants.
Planting Heuchera and getting them to grow well is generally easy when you get a few of the basics right. This involves planting them in the right soil type, choosing the most ideal planting position, and ensuring the plants have the essentials to thrive. The Plant Company has the right advice to give you the greatest chance of success when growing Heuchera.
Heucheras are generally considered to be shade-loving plants, but they can tolerate a range of light conditions, including full sun. However, their foliage may scorch if they are exposed to direct sun quickly. They do best in partial shade such as under a tree where they receive dappled light or along a shaded portion of a house. Avoid putting them in heavy shade positions as they tend to become “leggy” in such positions.
Deer will eat Heuchera (Coral Bells) especially if other food sources are scarce. While Heuchera is not their preferred food, they will happily munch on it if they are hungry enough. You can limit the damage to plants by planting them closer to the house, using deer repellent, or fencing your garden.
Heuchera are very easy to grow. Choose a partial shade position with both good drainage and shelter for your plants. The hole should be dug to at least 50-75% deeper and wider than the container the plant is currently growing in. A good planting spade makes this job a lot easier. The Plant Company recommends incorporating compost or sheep pellets into the soil to provide additional organic material, but this is not essential. Do not put fertiliser in the bottom of the hole, rather spread shrub fertiliser onto the soil surface after planting, and preferably do this when the plant is actively growing in spring.
Remove the plant from the container it is growing in by either pulling it free or by cutting the pot. We recommend cutting the container to minimise any chance of damaging the roots. If the roots have been growing in a circle or are all bound up you can tease them apart if you want but this is not essential. Similarly, you don’t need to remove any of the growing media. The Plant Company does not recommend cutting the roots, even if the plant is root-bound as this offers no benefit as explained in our article, Managing Rootbound Plants.
Now place the plant in the hole and make sure it is level with the soil surface before filling in around it. If it is sitting above the soil surface, dig more out. If it is below, put in more soil and retest the level. Once the plant is set level with the soil surface, add more soil gradually and firm it around the plant using gentle pressure from your fingers as you go. Scatter shrub fertiliser across the soil surface after planting and the give the plant a good watering. Keep watering the plants regularly during dry weather until they are established.
Heuchera are versatile plants and can be used in many garden styles and options. A few of the more common uses include:
When planting Heucheras, be sure to space them 25-35 cm apart. This will give them enough room to grow and spread out.
The best place to plant Heucheras is in a spot that receives partial shade or dappled sunlight. They can tolerate full sun, but their foliage may scorch if they are exposed to too much direct sun. Heucheras also prefer well-drained soil, so avoid planting them in areas that are prone to waterlogging.
This series of articles provides advice and information on various subjects relating to Heuchera.
Heuchera americana, also known as American alumroot is a North American native wildflower found in rocky woodlands and crevices. It's a parent to many of the popular Heuchera cultivars with that come in a wide range of foliage colors. A few of its characteristics include:
Heuchera americana is perfect for borders, shade gardens, rock gardens, or for mass planting as a groundcover.
Heuchera Blondie, also known as Blondie Coral Bells features scallop-shaped, caramel-coloured leaves that turn red-orange during the colder months. It is generally evergreen but may die back during winter to regrow again in spring in colder regions. It produces dense spikes of cream-yellow, bell-shaped flowers from late spring until mid-autumn.
Heuchera Blondie grows compactly as a small mound to about 20 cm (5-10 inches) tall and the same wide. It prefers a part shade position with protection from sun in hot climates. The soil must be well-drained and provide consistent moisture to the plants. Adding a layer of mulch in spring will help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Heuchera Blondie is an excellent choice for borders, container growing, rock gardens, or underplanting roses and large shrubs.
Heuchera Huckleberry features silver-grey leaves with a redd-purple undertone which is more prominent around the veins. The pink tones tend to feature more strongly during spring and autumn. It produces slender, upright stems with clusters of small, bell-shaped flowers in summer. The flowers open pale pink but mature to white.
It grows as a compact and bushy mound to about 40-50 cm (18-20 inches) tall and wide. It prefers a full sun or partial shade position and will benefit from some shade during hot afternoons to prevent scorching. The soil must be well-drained and provide consistent moisture to the plants. Adding a layer of mulch in spring will help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Heuchera Huckleberry is an excellent choice for borders, container growing, rock gardens, or underplanting roses and large shrubs.
Heucheras are generally tough plants and don't suffer from many pests. However, the most common pest that can affect them is the black vine weevil. These weevils are small, black beetles that feed on the leaves at night, leaving characteristic notches along the edges. The larvae of these weevils do the real damage, however. They feed on the roots of the plant, causing it to wilt and eventually die. Gardeners will often mistakenly think the plant needs more water which often results in over-watering and root rot as a secondary issue. To control black vine weevil use an insecticide that states that it controls weevils.
The other common pests are aphids and mealybugs. Aphids are small, sap-sucking insects that can cause leaves to curl and distort. Mealybugs are cottony-looking insects can infest the lower stems and leaves. Once again, specific insecticides are required for their control.
Heucheras are relatively low-maintenance plants but they will grow better with appropriate plant care.
By following these care guidelines, you can ensure that your Heucheras thrive and add beauty to your garden for many years.
There are a large number of Heuchera varieties that The Plant Company has cataloged, worked on, propagated, and marketed. Our database of Heuchera varieties is listed below:
Heuchera are easily propagated by division. Established plants are simply broken apart with roots still attached. This task is usually undertaken in autumn or spring, with the plants potted up using growing media for about 12 weeks before planting out again. Take care not to make plants too small as they must have plenty of roots to successfully re-establish.
The two most popular red Heuchera plants are Heuchera Berry Smoothie and Heuchera Northern Exposure Red. These varieties grow to 30-40 cm tall and the same wide and afford spectacular foliage. The Plant Company has many other Heuchera varieties that are well worth checking out!
Heuchera, commonly known as coral bells or alumroot, is a genus of about 55 species (exact numbers vary) of evergreen to semi-evergreen herbaceous perennials, all native to North America. They are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, meadows, and rocky outcrops.
The best yellow Heuchera variety in NZ is Heuchera Lime Marmalade. It features yellow-green leaves which are both lush and colourful. The Plant Company has a wide range of Heuchera varieties which are well worth checking out!
Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.
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