The Gardeners Almanac

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Heuchera

Common name: Coral Flower

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Week Numbers

Compost

Containers

Deadheading

Division

Heating

Manure

Mulching

Planting out

Pricking out

Seed sowing

Watering

Overview:

Heuchera is a hardy herbaceous perennial, and is a member of the Saxifrage family.

It can be used to provide edging for borders, ground cover beneath deciduous trees, and decorative cut flowers.

Leaves showing Autumnal colouring

Autumnal colouring

Plant flowering in the bed

Plant coming into flower

Plant flowring in the border

Plum Pudin'

Plant flowering in the herbaceous bed

Palace Purple

 

Many growers grow heuchera for the various foliage colours that are available, rather than for their coral white or pink flowers.

Heuchera generally grow to a height of 200-500mm (8”-18”), and carry 150-200mm (6”-8”) panicles of tiny coral, white or pink bell-shaped flowers from June to September.


Close up of deep pink flower head

In Flower

Close up of flower buds

In Bud

Plants need rich soil, use commercial potting compost if growing in containers, and compost / manure enriched soil if growing in the border.

They prefer partial shade, although they will tolerate full sun providing they are watered regularly.


Water regularly in dry seasons, mulch if necessary,they need to be kept moist but not over-wet.

If they get too dry, they may develop leaf scorch and die back.

Remove the stems after flowering.


Cultivation:

Week 7:

Sow seeds in pots or trays of seed compost, and germinate at around 20°C (68°F)

Germination should take around 10 days.


Week 11:

When the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them off into boxes, later into a nursery bed.


Week 15:

Divide established plants now if not done the previous autumn.

Thin out the woody centres of the plant clusters and discard, and transplant the younger peripheral shoots.

Plant to the same depth as they were before lifting!

This task should be carried out every three to four years.


Week 16:

Now is a good time to apply mulch which will help to prevent the root system pushing the plant out of the soil.


Week 40:

Plant out in light, well-drained soil 250-300mm (10”-12”) apart, between now and April in either a sunny or partially shaded position.

Established plants can be divided now as an alternative to spring division.