| Description | Vesuvius Coral Bells (Heuchera) is a hardy, clump-forming herbaceous perennial with purple leaves with a light silver overlay and bright orange-red flowers. |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | (HEW-ker-ah) |
| Plant Type | Perennials Hardy, Site author's observations |
| Hardiness Zone | 5-9 |
| Sunlight | half day morning sun, part sun, may burn in full sun |
| Moisture | average, moist, avoid dry |
| Soil & Site | average |
| Flowers | The tiny orange-red florets (flowers) are borne airy panicles. To about 16-inch tall scapes |
| Leaves | The leaves can reach deep purple leaves with a light silver overlay. |
| Dimensions | flower spikes to 16 inches |
| Maintenance | Depending on the species, some Heuchera plants can produce a large number of flower scapes, which should be deadheaded. I prefer to gently remove the dead leaves in spring; "gently" is the key word here, as some Heuchera varieties do not produce sturdy clumps and can easily break apart. Heuchera tend to experience frost heaving, so applying mulch can help prevent this issue. In the spring, it's a good practice to gently push the plants back into the ground or dig in. As the plants age and develop thick, heavy stems at the base, rejuvenation through division may be necessary. |
| Propagation | division |
| Cultivar Origin | Terra Nova Nursery, USA, 2000 |
| Author's Notes | I have grown and observed many different varieties of Heuchera over the years. I ran a nursery when "Palace Purple" was the most popular variety, but now there are so many cultivars available that it can be overwhelming. In my opinion, the best place to grow Heuchera is in an area that receives some full sun, especially on an east-facing side where the plants won't get scorched. When grown in full sun, they will require additional moisture |
| Notes & Reference | References: #105-Heuchera and Heucherella (Dan Heims, Grahame), #119-Heuchera, Tiarella and Heucherella A Gardeners Guide (Charles and Martha Oliver), #274-Site Authors' observations and growing experiences of different Heuchera |
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