Garden Guru: Heuchera or coral bells are a welcome cool-season planting

It wasn't long ago I was hiking around Blue Ridge, Ga., and came across a few terrific looking heuchera or coral bells which to that point I had only seen for sale in garden centers. All heuchera species are native to the United States, including this Heurchera villosa native in the Southeast from Arkansas to Georgia and north to New York. It is one of two native Georgia species Heuchera americana being the other, that are used in breeding many of the new cultivars.

Heuchera was actually chosen as the Perennial Plant of the Year in 1991 and, though native, was still a virtual unknown. Since then there have been more hybrids and varieties, colors and variegations than we possibly could have ever imagined. When you look at a plant tag or a plant for that matter, it is next to impossible to identify which ones have the DNA from a species native to our state or region.

But then there are times when by George there they are, varieties like Carmel and Lava Lamp that are labeled as a hybrid variety of Heuchera villosa. Now don't get me wrong; I'm not saying everyone in the country should just choose Carmel or Lava Lamp, but knowing they are hybrids of our native Georgia species does give a clue that it might have a little more heat tolerance. The same goes for Georgia Peach, a UGA award winner and a hybrid of the native Heuchera americana.

Heucheras are considered perennial in zones 4 to 8 and tend to be evergreen in warmer climates. It prefers moist, fertile organic rich soil that drains freely. In the landscape we promote sun to part sun in the north and part sun to shade in the south. On the other hand, in the South it is an excellent component plant for sunny cool-season mixed containers, boxes and even the landscape like you might do for a flowering kale, cabbage or mustard. It will look attractive to around the end of June, however, which is long after the brassicas have bolted and flowered.

While I treasure the foliage, know that the plants produce tall airy flowers in pink, coral, red or white. Many have foliage so colorful and ornately shaped it will cause you to stop dead in your tracks, and you could care less if they ever bloomed. These spikes of blossoms, however, do bring in hummingbirds. The plants reach 12 to 16 inches tall and should be spaced 15 to 28 inches apart or as recommended per your variety tag. In addition to the native hybrid I mentioned above, Amber Waves, Crème Brulee, Mocha, Palace Purple, and Peach Melba are few more that have brought out my camera in the last few years.

At the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens we are growing some as annuals in boxes with tall blooming Bouquet Purple dianthus, in another area we have them in the ground in the morning sun of the Cottage Garden. I assure you there is a season where the heuchera can perform in Savannah. It may be a short-lived perennial or my favorite as a stunning filler plant in our mixed containers.

Norman Winter is the director of the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens at the Historic Bamboo Farm, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Follow him on twitter @CGBGgardenguru.

Norman Winter is the director of the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens at the Historic Bamboo Farm, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Follow him on twitter @CGBGgardenguru.