Plant Type

Ground cover, Perennial

 

Height Range

Under 1', 1-3'

 

Flower Color

Pink, Red, White

 

Flower Season

Spring, Summer, Intermittent

 

Leaf Color

Bronze, Gold, Green, Yellow Green, Purple, Red, Silver, White, Variegated

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full, Half, Shade

 

Water

Medium

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Clay, Loam

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

English Cottage, Formal, Woodland

 

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers, Unusual Foliage

 

Seasonal Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

 

Location Uses

Entry, Perennial Border, Shrub Border, Foundation, Parking Strip, Patio, Raised Planter, Walkways

 

Special Uses

Container, Cut Flowers, Mass Planting, Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

Hummingbirds

Coral bell are a large collection of perennials, with many species and many more hybrids, and are grown as much for their fabulous foliage as they are the dainty flowers they produce. Plants are generally clumping-mounding, with rounded to heart-shaped leaves, lobed or deeply separated, usually with prominent veining. Leaves may be green, bronze, purple, yellow, copper, or chartreuse, and speckled or zoned, depending on variety. Flowers are bell-shaped and form along an erect stem, and may be white, cream, pinks, reds, or rather insignificant. Generally blooms early to mid summer, though with foliage like this, flowers are almost unnecessary. Size ranges from little heuchera, barely 6 inches tall, to much larger plants growing 24 inches tall and wide, and taller still if you count their flower stems. Wonderful additions to perennial, shrub, or foundation borders, also containers, and along walks.

Grow in well drained soil in full sun to light shade (depending on the variety). When planted in full sun, they do best when not situated where it is very hot, such as against walls or by sidewalks. Ideally, plant in loamy soils, in dry shade to part shade conditions. Remove entire stalk after flowering to encourage continued bloom. In our cold winters, Heuchera crowns can heave above the soil line. Mulching after the ground freezes hard, will prevent the freezing and thawing that pushes the plants up. Check periodically to make sure the roots are not exposed. Replant, if possible. Some varieties are listed as evergreen; in our climate, it depends on the variety, the winter, and where they are planted. But even if not evergreen, the foliage carries well into the fall and early winter months. They do not do well in damp soils.