Hybrid coral bells are the result of crosses between Heuchera micrantha, H. sanguinea, and H. americana and vary primarily in size, flower color and heat-tolerance. The genus, Heuchera, is in the saxifrage family, Saxifragaceae, that also includes astilbe, tiarella, and bergenia. Plants range in height from 12-30″ tall and produce a mound of scalloped evergreen leaves 4-8″ long. The tiny flowers are 1/8″ wide and carried slender panicles that rise well above the foliage from late spring to early summer. The flowers may be red, pink, or occasionally white. The increased heat tolerance of the hybrids has been especially appreciated by gardeners in the Southeast where heat and humidity have made growing heucheras difficult. Many hybrids are available many of which were developed at Alan Bloom’s Bressingham Gardens. The genus name, Heuchera, honor Johann Heinrich von Heucher (1677-1747, a botantist, physician, and medicinal plant expert at Wittenberg University, Germany. The specific epithet, brizoids, comes from the Greek name for a gain, possibly rye, and is the genus name of quaking grass.
Type: Evergreen herbaceous perennial
Bloom: Tiny red, pink, sometimes white flowers on slender panicles from late spring to early summer
Size: 12-30″ H x 12-18″ W
Light:Full sun to part shade
Soil:Fertile, humusy, medium moist well-drained
Hardiness: Zones 3-10
Care: Deadhead to prolong bloom; divide every 4-5 years or when plants become woody and bloom is reduced.
Pests and Diseases: None of significance
Propagation: Seed, division in spring
Companion Plants: Lady’s mantel, leather begeniaAstilbe,
Outstanding Selections:
“Chatterbox’ (pink flowers)
‘Coral Cloud’ (floriferous, coral-pink flowers)
‘Fire Sprite’ (rose red flowers)
‘June Bride’ (white flowers)
‘Pluie de Feu’ (scarlet flowers)
‘Pretty Pink’ (pink flowers)
‘Snowflake’ (white flowers)
‘White Cloud’ (‘white flowers)
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Karen Meyers