Heuchera ‘Rachel’

Heuchera ‘Rachel’ (07/06/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Summer

Eventual Height: 40cm

Eventual Spread: 40cm

Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a

Family: Saxifragaceae

Heuchera ‘Rachel’ is a semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial with a clump forming habit. Its red/ purple leaves are chordate and  with shallowly lobed margins, up to 10cm across and 8cm long. It pale pink flowers are tubular, appear in sprays on wiry stems above its leaves.

Heuchera ‘Rachel’ Flower (07/06/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Heuchera ‘Rachel’ is commonly known as Alum Root, Coral Flower or Coral Bells.

The etymological root of the binomial name Heuchera was named for Johann Heinrich von Heucher, the 18th century professor of medicine and botanist at Wittenberg, Germany.

The Landscape architect may find Heuchera ‘Rachel’ useful as an effective low ground cover when planted en mass. If grown in full sun this plant requires a constantly moist soil to look good.

Ecologically, Heuchera ‘Rachel’ flowers are attractive to  pollinating insects.

Heuchera ‘Rachel’ Leaf (07/06/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Heuchera ‘Rachel’ prefers moist, fertile, humus rich, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Heuchera ‘Rachel’ requires little maintenance. If desired flower heads and foliage may be removed if looking untidy. Large clumps may be divided in autumn.

Heuchera americana

Heuchera americana (18/11/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 60cm (flowering 90cm)

Eventual Spread: 60cm

Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Saxifragaceae

Heuchera americana is an evergreen, herbaceous perennial with a clump forming habit. Its green/ purple leaves are lobed and semi-palmate and slightly riffled. Its leaf veins become purple/ red during cold weather. Its green/ cream flowers are tubular, bell shaped, up to 6mm long, are borne in narrow loose racemes on top of erect stalks.

Heuchera americana, commonly known as Alumroot or Coral Bells, is native to central USA.

The etymological root of the binomial name Heuchera is named after Professor J.V. Heucher the 18th Century German physician.  Americana is derived from the Lain meaning ‘from America’.

The landscape architect may find Heuchera americana useful as a low maintenance, low growing evergreen ground cover plant particularly in dappled shade locations. Once established this perennial is drought tolerant in more shady locations.

Heuchera americana Leaf (18/11/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Heuchera americana flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.

Heuchera americana prefers moist, humus rich, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Heuchera americana requires little maintenance. Large clumps of this plant may be divided in early autumn or  spring.

Heuchera ‘Lime Ricky’

Heuchera ‘Lime Ricky’ (03/12/2011, London)

Position: Full sun to shade

Flowering Period: Early Summer

Soil: Well Drained, Moist

Eventual Height: 30cm

Eventual Spread: 40cm

Hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b,  11

Family: Saxifragaceae

Heuchera ‘Lime Ricky’ is a semi-evergreen, herbaceous perennial with a clump forming habit. The bright lime green ruffled leaves of the plant are rounded to heart shaped, lobed and often toothed with boldly leaved veins. The leaves of this plant gradually change from a mid green to an acid lime colour throughout the summer months. The white flowers are tubular, bell shaped, up to 6mm long, are borne in narrow loose racemes and have conspicuous, colourful calyces. The stems of the plant are arching and slender. 

Heuchera ‘Lime Ricky’ , commonly known as Coral Bells or Alum Root, the species of which is native to north America. The genus is named after Johann Heinrich von Heucher and 18th century German physician.

The etymological root of the binomial name Heuchera is named after Professor J.V. Heucher the 18th Century German physician. 

The landscape architect may find Heuchera ‘Lime Ricky’ useful as a low maintenance, low growing semi-evergreen ground cover plant particularly in dappled shade.

Ecologically, Heuchera ‘Lime Ricky’ will attract pollinating insects such as butterflies and honey bees however, as this plant is not native to this continent these associations may not be prolific.

Heuchera ‘Lime Ricky’ prefers humus rich, well-drained soils. It will tolerate poor soils and will tolerate  with most pH of soil.

Heuchera ‘Lime Ricky’ requires little maintenance. Large clumps of this plant may be divided in early autumn or  spring.