Rich in nectar, the flowersattract hummingbirdsand butterflies, plus make nice cut blooms.
Their leaves are rounded, lobed, hairy, and evergreen or semi-evergreen, depending on the climate.
But they are short-lived perennials; unless divided regularly, they will die out in a few years.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Water
This plant has medium water needs and likes consistently moist soil.
Container-grown coral bells benefit from feeding with a water-soluble fertilizer to replenish nutrients that leach from the soil.
For the amount, follow the product label instructions.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Types of Coral Bells
Several different species ofHeuchera,includingH.
sanguinea, H. villosa, andH.
parviflora,are commonly sold in the trade, along with named cultivars of each species.H.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
But even more popular are the many named cultivars derived from cross-species hybridization.
These often simply carry theHeucheralabel.
The exact parentage of hybrids is sometimes lost, butH.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
sanguinaare thought to be the most common parent species.
The most notable differences between varieties can be seen in their foliage color and texture variations.
Pruning coral bells in the early spring can prevent the plant from crowding new growth.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
In late fall, you’re able to remove yellow or dead leaves and spent stems.
you might also prune coral bells after flowers have bloomed to encourage leaf production.
Propagating Coral Bells
Coral bells are most often propagated by dividing the root clumps.
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Either fall or spring division will work, though many gardeners prefer fall.
The root crowns of the divisions should be planted so they are just barely covered with soil.
Commercial seeds will produce more predictable results.
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Pure species are the easiest to obtain from specialty nurseries or online retailers.
Choose a container that has good drainage and a potting mix that drains freely.
When grown in containers, keep the root crown slightly higher than the soil level.
Overwintering
In warmer climates, this plant often remains evergreen through the winter.
Because the roots are shallow, coral bells can be prone to winter root heaving in colder climates.
A light mulch over the plants can prevent this.
In other regions, overwintering simply involves cleaning up plant debris to prevent fungi from overwintering.
Potential insect problems include weevils and foliar nematodes.
If an infection persists, treat your plants with a mild insecticide or neem oil.
Avoid overfeeding these plants, which can hinder blossoming as it stimulates foliage development.
And some varieties bred to be sun-lovers may not bloom well if they are planted in deep shade.
What Does Coral Bells' Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Deadheading the faded flowers regularly will help ensure repeated blooming all summer and into fall.
Giving plants extra water during hot spells can minimize this scorching.
A layer of mulch applied just after the ground freezes may help prevent heaving due to repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
The more heat-tolerant cultivars often haveHeuchera villosain their parentage, which is a notably heat-tolerant species.
Gardeners as far south as zone 9 usually have success with varieties based on this species.
Two excellent cultivars known for their heat tolerance are Caramel and Citronelle.H.
villosais a native plant in the southeastern U.S. and is hardy to zone 7.
Heuchera sanguineaand its direct cultivars are considered hardy to zone 3. sanguineaplants, you may need to shop at a specialty nursery.
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.
Heuchera: A Versatile Landscape Plant.University of Vermont Extension Department of Plant and Soil Science.
Heuchera villosa.North Carolina State University Extension Service.
University of Minnesota Extension.
Balogh, Anne.A Guide to Growing Heuchera Plants (Coral Bells).
Heuchra ‘Amber Waves’.Missouri Botanical Garden.
Black Vine Weevil in Heuchera.University of British Columbia Botanical Garden.
HeucheraCoral Bells.Clemson Cooperative Extension.
