Plant of the Week
Coral Bells
Let the Coral Bells ring, as Plant of the Week! The genus Heuchera includes over 50 species of perennials native to North America. And today, plant breeders have developed a multitude of hybrids between various Heuchera species with an extensive array of blossom sizes, shapes, colors, and evergreen foliage types. Named after 18th century German physician Johann Heinrich von Heucher, Heuchera are commonly known as ‘Alumroot’ (roots once used to aid digestive problems) or ‘Coral Bells’ (nodding bell shaped flowers). Coral Bells add “wow” and “pizzazz” to the garden or containers year round. Their heart shaped / rounded evergreen leaves (sometimes even ruffled), range in a host of bright colors and sometimes variegated patterns. As an added bonus, that colorful foliage is graced with bell shaped flowers (late spring and into summer) that gave them their name, displayed on flower spikes 12 to 24 inches high. The clusters of bell shaped flowers also come in a variety of colors, and last for several weeks. Unlike most plants, they will grow in most exposures, great for planting under shrubs and smaller trees, along with other perennials or all by themselves, and perform exceptionally well in containers. And with names like Citronelle, Melting Fire, Plum Pudding, Peach Melba, Midnight Rose and Georgia Peach, how could you grow wrong planting these? Let the ‘Coral Bells’ ring in your garden! [Hardy zones 3-9, low deer browse, low pest problems and attractive to hummingbirds, Coral Bells prefer well drained evenly moist soils. Grow in partial sun / shade, with some selections doing better in heavier shade, and some better for full sun!. Plants grow in a rounded clump shape, ranging in heights of 10 - 16 inches.]
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