Heuchera

Common name: Coral Bells / Heuchera

Description: Heucheras are among the most versatile and ornamentally valuable evergreen perennials available for UK gardens, grown primarily for their richly coloured, ruffled foliage which comes in an extraordinary range of tones including deep burgundy, chocolate, burnished copper, lime-green, and silver-overlaid purples. Slender stems of small, bell-shaped flowers — typically in pink, coral, or white — rise above the foliage in early summer, adding further interest. Modern varieties maintain their foliage colour year-round and are equally effective as ground cover, in containers, in shaded borders, and as edging plants. The wide variety of leaf colours makes heuchera an invaluable plant for creating contrasts in any planting scheme.

Other benefits: outstanding year-round foliage in a huge range of colours; evergreen structure; slender flower stems add summer interest; excellent in containers; versatile in sun or shade

Wildlife attraction: bees and hoverflies attracted to the flowers

Height & spread (approx.) at 10 years: 30–45cm x 30–45cm (varies by variety)

Position: partial shade preferred; tolerates full sun with adequate moisture; borders, containers, and underplanting

Soil pH: neutral to slightly acid (pH 5.5–7.0); moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil

Moisture: moderate; keep consistently moist but not waterlogged; mulch to retain moisture in summer

Winter hardiness: fully hardy to -20°C