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Heuchera Plant Care – Growing Coral Bells for a Shade Garden

Heuchera is a Native American perennial plant that is found all over the country.

It is more commonly known as Coral Bells and comes in many shades of purple, rose, green and variegated varieties. 

The plant makes a wonderful display in any shade garden and, although it does flower, it is grown more for the foliage.  

Heuchera - coral bells makes a great shade garden plant

I have several varieties growing in the shady spots in my garden beds.

Heuchera Perennial also known As Coral Bells

Heuchera is popular because it is easy to grow, adaptable and looks great.  It is also hardy to zone 4 and considered to be somewhat deer resistant, which is a plus if you have deer that wander into your gardens.

One of the things that I love about them is that they grow beautifully in a shade garden on the north side of my house that gets very little sun. They even flower in this spot!

Heuchera plant care is easy with just a few tips

How to grow Coral Bells

If you have a shady garden spot, be sure to give coral bells perennial a place in it.  These tips for heuchera care will make sure that your coral bells plants will give you pleasure for years to come.

Heuchera for shade gardens? – Sunlight needs for coral bells

Heucheras are fairly forgiving when it comes to sunlight. The plant can take full sun and partial shade.  Depending on your zone, you may need to protect it from the harshest summer rays.

I live in North Carolina and find that my plants to best with filtered sun and light shade. This brings out the color in the foliage the best.heuchera in too much sunlight can fade or scorch the foliage

Even though coral bells can take full sun, harsh sun can wash out the color of the leaves and too much sunlight can also cause the edges of the leaves to scorch.

Since the plant is normally a woodland plant, it’s happiest in light shade.

How much water does coral bells need?

Heuchera prefers a moist soil condition. It will do well with about an inch of rain during the growing season.  If you get less rain than this, your plants will be happiest if you give them additional water.Water on heuchera leaves

But once again, the plant is forgiving.  This is the reason that I prefer to place my coral bells in a shady spot. It makes managing the water an easier task. 

Soil for heuchera perennials

In nature, the plants grow in woodland settings.  Often they will root along steep slopes which offer the plant good drainage. This gives an indication of the type of soil that we should use for coral bells.

A good well draining soil works best for heuchera. Adding compost to the soil when planting coral bells and again in the spring will help with drainage.

Adding some composted leaf mulch  around, but not too close to the crown of, heuchera also helps to conserve moisture.

How large do Coral bells get?

The size of mature plants is about 12-18″.  You can use the plants in clusters to give garden interest. This Heuchera Creme Brulee is a very mature plant that has multiplied to appear much larger.Heuchera Creme Brulee

Landscaping with Coral Bells

Their size and foliage colors makes them good edging and planter specimens and planting them in groups will make the plant appear larger and will make a good back drop for other flowering plants.

Foliage of Coral bells

Heuchera perennials are grown mainly for their beautiful foliage. The many varieties of coral bells come in shades from brown, green, chartreuse, purple, bronze through to red.

Some of the shades are so dark that it makes them look like black plants!
Heuchera green spice has variegated foliage

The leaves of some varieties (like this Heuchera Green Spice) have a bi-color look to them that is very appealing.

Heuchera flowers

Even though we plant coral bells for the plant’s foliage, it does produce flower stalks. The flowers grow on long stems which lover able the foliage.Coral bells flowers

While the flowers are not as impressive as the leaves, they do add a bit of interest to the garden and can be quite colorful. They are small and popular with hummingbirds.

Bloom time is late spring to early summer. Plants grown in a shady spot may not flower as well as those that get a decent amount of sunlight.

Propagation of Coral Bells

Heuchera can be grown from seed but the plant may not look like the parent. To get a plant with the same characteristics as the mother plant, you can take root cuttings, or pot up the babies that will grow near the base of the parent plant.

Mature heuchera perennials will grow into quite a large clump.  It is best to divide the parent plant every 3-4 years to keep the mother healthy and vibrant.

To divide coral bells, dig up the clump and separate the individual plants, keeping as much root as possible with each plant.  The best time to divide coral bells is in the early spring or fall months.

Cold Hardiness Zones for Heuchera

The plant is cold hardy in zones 4-8. The plant is evergreen and keeps it’s foliage color all year long.

Heuchera Companion Plants

Since coral bells is happiest in a shady spot, other shade loving plants will make great companions for it.  Some good choices are:Companion Plants for Coral Bells

Heuchera Varieties

There are many different coral bell varieties.  Here are a few to try: (affiliate links)There are many heuchera varieties

  • Heuchera Palace Purple – deep bronze leaves.
  • Heuchera villosa – Pale yellow green leaves.
  • Heuchera Caramel – the autumn colored leaves make it great for fall planting.
  • Heuchera marmalade – reddish bronze foliage
  • Heuchera obsidian – purplish black leaves.
  • Heuchera Green Spice – Variegated leaf colors

Coral Bells in Stott Garden – Goshen Indiana

Here are some additional photos of Coral bells taken by Janie Newton Teel on a Garden Tour of Stott Garden in Goshen Indiana.

Huechera

Heuchera is a real feature of these gardens.  I love all the varieties of coral bells that they have growing!Close up of Heuchera

Every garden can be made more beautiful with the addition of Heucheras and this is the year for you to add some to your garden.  Do you have one in your garden? Paths lined with Heuchera in Stott Garden

Pin it for later

To remind yourself of care tips for coral bells, pin this image to one of your gardening boards on Pinterest.If you are looking for a flowering shade garden plant, try growing hechera. It is an easy care perennial that grows well with hostas and ferns.

Admin note: This post first appeared on the blog in April of 2013. I have updated the post to add additional information, more photos, a printable care card and a video for you to enjoy.

Yield: Great plants for a shade Garden

Heuchera Plant Care - Growing Coral Bells

Coral Bells

Heuchera is also known as coral bells. It is a perennial plant that is evergreen with beautiful foliage.

Active Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Difficulty easy

Materials

  • Heuchera Plant
  • Compost
  • Shade Garden

Tools

  • Print out this card so that you have care tips for coral bells handy.

Instructions

  1. Sunlight: Will grow in full sun but prefers Shade
  2. Watering: 1 inch a week
  3. Soil: Well draining
  4. Size: 12 - 18 inches
  5. Foliage: Grown for its colorful leaves. Flowers are insignificant
  6. Propagation: By Division. Seeds don't grow true to parent.
  7. Cold Hardiness: Zones 4-8

Share on Social Media

Annette

Wednesday 7th of November 2018

I have Heucheras growing in pots. I live in a subtropical area and the days can be very hot, like today and yesterday at 38degrees. But they do well in a shaded area under an olive tree.

Annette

Jacson

Thursday 12th of February 2015

I like your post, I appreciate your work.

Lili

Wednesday 4th of February 2015

I like your post, you define fundamental of huecheras.

Pauline

Thursday 25th of April 2013

Heuchera are commonly used as accent or specimen plants, in woodland gardens or rock gardens, and as groundcovers or mass plantings. It also attracts butterflies and hummingbirds into the garden. If you are also looking for gardening ideas to help improve your garden and outdoor space, just click here.

admin

Friday 26th of April 2013

thanks for the info.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small commission from the sale, but the price is the same for you. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

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