Coral Bells, Heuchera, Alumroot

Heuchera cv.

Saxifragaceae - Saxifrage Family

▲▼  mature, flowering plants

▲▼ leaves

▲▼  flowers

Huechera species/cultivars:  Coral Bells, Alum Root, Heuchera

Location near campus:  in the Xeriscape Garden at the corner of National and Linwood, south of campus.

·         Forms a cluster of rounded, shallowly-lobed leaves about 3 inches wide/long with long petioles

·         Leaves may be yellow-green, green, purple-green, purple, reddish with or without silvery or darker green markings on leaves; leaves usually have scattered, long, stiff hairs—leaves can be quite showy on some cultivars

·         Prefers partial shade, and fertile, moist, but well-drained soil

·         Foliage grows 6-12 inches tall

·         Tiny, upside-down urn-shaped flowers are born on slender panicles that may be 2-3 feet tall—some species have brightly-colored, showy flowers

·         Heuchera americana:  American Alumroot

o   Has medium green foliage with long stiff hairs; some cultivars have silvery-tinge

o   Has greenish-pink flowers

o   Native to Missouri

·         Heuchera micrantha:  Small-Flowered Alumroot

o   Has the more purple and silvery leaved cultivars—mainly grown for foliage

o   Flowers are very small, cream-colored—usually not too showy

o   Native to Pacific Northwest; cultivars are more heat and drought tolerant

·         Heuchera sanguinea:  Coral Bells

o   Has green leaves, some with silvery tinge

o   Flowers are bright red, pink, salmon—this is the more showy-flowered species

o   Native to the Rocky Mountains