Perennial
Heuchera
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | Flowers in May | Flowers in June | Flowers in July | |||||||||
| Plant | Plant in March | Plant in April | Plant in May | Plant in September | Plant in October | |||||||
| Prune | Prune in March | |||||||||||
| Looks good | Looks good in January | Looks good in February | Looks good in March | Looks good in April | Looks good in May | Looks good in June | Looks good in July | Looks good in August | Looks good in September | Looks good in October | Looks good in November | Looks good in December |
Overview
Heucheras give colour all year from their scalloped leaves, which come in caramel, lime, near-black, silver-veined purple and red. Airy sprays of small bell flowers rise above in late spring and summer. Older types such as 'Palace Purple' are tough and reliable; newer ones like 'Marmalade', 'Lime Marmalade' and 'Obsidian' widen the colour range. Heucherella, a cross with Tiarella, behaves similarly.
Where to grow heuchera
Most heucheras do best in light or part shade with soil that drains well but does not dry out completely. Dark purple types tolerate more sun; lime and caramel leaves can scorch in hot afternoon sun. They are superb in containers, window boxes and at the front of shady borders.
Planting
Plant in spring or autumn, 30–40 cm apart, with the crown just at soil level. Add leaf mould or compost on heavy soils, and use a peat-free compost with grit for pots. Firm in and water well.
Care through the year
Spring
Trim off any battered winter leaves and feed lightly. Check older plants for crowns lifting out of the soil.
Summer
Water pots regularly. Remove spent flower stems to keep the foliage looking fresh.
Autumn
A good time to plant or replant. Check container plants for vine weevil.
Winter
Foliage persists through most winters. Stand pots on feet so they do not sit in wet.
Pruning
There is no real pruning. Remove dead leaves in spring and cut faded flower stems down to the foliage.
Propagation
After three or four years, crowns become woody and lift above the soil. Lift the plant in spring or autumn, pull it apart into rooted pieces and replant them deeper so the stem is buried to the base of the leaves.
Common problems
Vine weevil is the big one: the grubs eat the roots, and plants suddenly wilt and lift out of the pot. Tip out suspect pots and pick out the C-shaped white grubs, or use nematodes in late summer. Notched leaf edges show where adult weevils feed.
Guides to the problems most likely to affect heuchera:
Something else wrong? Diagnose it by symptom.
Month-by-month reminders
Jobs for this plant come round in March, April, May, September and October. Each month page lists everything else worth doing in the garden at the same time.
Related plants
Sources
Botanical names follow Kew's Plants of the World Online; growing attributes were checked against the references below. Text is our own. See our editorial policy.