Coral Bells (Heuchera Americana)
 |
| coral bells |
Coral Bells are stars in a shade garden because of their striking foliage with color variations that have been selected in various cultivars. Coral Bells are valuable in the front or middle of the shady border individually, in mass, or in combination with other plants. This native usually produces five lobed, coarsely toothed leaves. New spring foliage may be washed in silver, pewter, or purple markings, which often persist. Mature plants usually grow 6 to 8 inches tall. Small white to purple or greenish purple flowers usually appear in late spring on long, wiry stems rising 12 to 15 inches above the foliage.
The flowers are interesting but not especially showy; the evergreen leaves are the real attraction. Tiarella are the coral bells first cousins and add more choices of color and leaf shape.
Coral Bells and tiarella are easy to cultivate and can be grown in average to moderately dry soils if well established. They are doubly useful because they retain their foliage through the winter months, adding interest to the garden every day of the year. It is a great companion to many other shade- loving wildflowers, including creeping phlox, native sedges and ferns.
