With a rainbow of colours to choose from, interesting leaf markings and dainty flowers, there's a Heuchera to suit any planting theme. Their love of shady areas and spreading foliage makes Heuchera and Heucherella a great groundcover choice for underplanting of shrubs, for creating base layers in container planting or just for brightening up a dull area. We take a look at these low maintenance perennial stars, and help you to get the best display from your plant.
Heuchera Planting and Care
Heuchera thrive in dappled shade, which allows their colours to be vibrant and avoids any leaf scorch. Some dark leaved varieties tolerate more sunlight, but the general rule is to keep them out of direct sun or deepest shade. Ensure when planting that the crown is allowed to sit above soil level, planting at the same level as the nursery pot soil is best. They love the ground to be evenly moist, so avoid a waterlogged spot or anywhere too free-draining. Once the right space is found and the plant has established, they are very low maintenance and only need a trim of old foliage in spring to allow the new leaves to come through.
Heuchera Problems
Heuchera and Heucherella are relatively untroubled by pests and diseases, but there are a few steps you can take to ensure the plant stays in good health.
- Scorched or crinkled foliage - Too much direct sun can burn the foliage, leading to an unsightly appearance. Remove damaged foliage and relocate plant to a more covered spot.
- Vine Weevil - These pests are the main problem gardeners tend to experience, and are more likely to be found in pot or container grown plants. Keep a layer of gravel around your plant to stop the weevil laying their eggs. If affected, you may notice leaves starting to come away easily. Empty the pot, wash the roots to remove any eggs, and replant.
- Heuchera rust - Brown spots on the leaf surface, with corresponding orange spots on the underside, may indicate the presence of rust. New foliage may grow crinkled and distorted. Remove affected foliage, and inspect the planting area to ensure the plant receives good air circulation. Water the plant from the base, so foliage does not stay wet or damp through the day.
Heuchera Varieties to Try
With a Heuchera in almost every colour, you'll be sure to find a plant which matches your colour scheme. Here are some of our favourites:
Red - Heuchera 'Forever Red' - Stunning vibrant red foliage with large serrated edging
Orange - Heuchera 'Paprika' - Textural veining in multi-tonal oranges
Yellow - Heuchera 'Red Lightning' - Yellow foliage with lightning bolts of red
Green - Heuchera 'Lime Swizzle' - Wonderful green serrated foliage with darker veining, for textural underplanting
Purple - Heuchera 'Forever Purple' - Eye-catching foliage of rich deep purple with black veining
Pink - Heuchera 'Berry Smoothie' - A mountain of pastel pink tones to deep pink
Silver - Heuchera World Caffe 'Corretto' - Maple shaped foliage in many silver tones with dark veining
Black - Heuchera 'Black Forest Cake' - Leaves of dramatic black with beautifully contrasting berry red flowers
