'Autumn Bride' Coral Bells (Heuchera)
Perennial
- Fuzzy, lime-green flowers add a burst of late-summer color!
- Shade-loving perennial that is perfect for woodland gardens.
- Low-growing & spreading, a great ground cover for shade.
- Native, deer-resistant, & pollinator-friendly.
- Zones 3-8, part sun to shade, 2’ tall x 3-4’ wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Achieve major pollinator appeal to your garden with hardy coral bells (Heuchera). Their vibrant hues and variety of textures make them a versatile addition to any gardening area—even containers. Coral bells feature tiny flowers that stand above vibrant foliage, attracting pollinators all summer long, and look fabulous cut or dried. Growing coral bells is also a breeze, making this native perennial excellent for beginner gardeners.
Details
Common name: Coral bells, alum root
Zone: 3-8
Sun exposure: Shade (<4 hours sun) to part-sun (4-6 hours sun).
Height x width: 2’ x 3-4’
Flower color: Green, white
Foliage color: Green
Season of Interest: Spring through fall.
Bloom time: Late summer through fall.
Features: Native, winter interest, rare & unusual, rabbit resistant, drought-tolerant, heat-tolerant, deer-resistant, container plants, cold-tolerant, low-maintenance, pollinator-friendly, fall interest
Uses: Accent, container gardening, cottage gardening, massing, ornamental, small spaces, specimen, under planting, woodland
How to Grow
Light: As a general rule, they do well in shade, but for the brightly colored varieties, some morning sun ensures best color development. The color can wash out in full sun, and too much heat and light can cause the leaves to scorch.
Water: Average. It's better to err on the side of caution and keep heuchera on the dry, rather than the wet, side. Keep the soil evenly moist, but not consistently wet to prevent root rot.
Spacing: Minimum 18 inches apart.
Fertilizing: Spread a layer of compost or rotted manure in early spring. Mulch is a good idea, but keep it from mounding on the crown (center) of the plant. Heuchera does not require fertilization during the fall or winter months.
Winterizing: Winter mulching will prevent the freezing and thawing that can heave plants roots. Heucheras are somewhat evergreen and should be left in place for winter. The old foliage typically lies flat and gets covered by the new growth, after which it slowly dies away, but you may remove it in early spring if you wish.
Maintenance & Pruning: Cut back the entire flower stalk after flowering to put the plant's energy into growing more leaves.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.