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 – 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.