Heucheras: Easy-Grow Perennials In 'Gourmet' Varieties

As regular readers know, Cheryl and I are strong advocates of native plants because they are less inclined to come with the potential problems sometimes associated with exotic imports.

However, native definitely doesn't mean dull! In this, the third column on perennials that will give your landscape a unique, colorful sparkle, we'll take a look at some of our favorite heucheras.

The original, wild heucheras have been found growing for centuries all across the continent from New England to Western Canada and even as far south as Mexico. Most wild heucheras aren't particularly colorful, but some recently-developed hybrids are spectacular while retaining the sturdy attitude of their wild cousins.

Cheryl and I cannot get enough of the heucheras. With all the new heucheras being developed we seem to be putting clusters of the new introductions in threes all around the garden. If you want easy no-fuss plants, these are the ones. Both novices and seasoned gardeners get hooked on heucheras.

Here are some of our favorites, with appropriately appetizing names...

Heuchera Peach Flambe PPAF

As the name implies, Peach Flambe glows in spring with eye-popping peach-colored leaves with red overtones. The leaves turn a beautiful deep purple with cooler fall weather. Creamy white flowers on 16 inch spikes emerge to give a great summer contrast. Like all heucheras, Peach Flambe is easy to plant and easy to grow. It is great for the low-maintenance landscape, borders, or patio additions.

Heuchera Lime Ricky PPAF

From peaches to limes ... This one makes a nice color contrast with Black Elephant ears, Black mondo grass, or any other dark foliage plant. The scalloped leaves have a chartreuse glow in spring, turning lemon-lime in summer and forming a sturdy evergreen mound. The taller sprays of ivory flowers appear in late spring. It attracts butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden.

Heuchera Plum Pudding

I love the evocative names horticulturists come up with! I think this is one of the finest heucheras, The plum-colored, evergreen foliage is outstanding and holds its color well even in full shade. This little perennial is worth growing just for its foliage alone, although the white flowers are striking on the dark plum stems. I should say that Cheryl and I remove the stems and use them for cut flowers, as we consider the flowers detract from the plant, so for us, Plum Pudding does double duty. The plant is more compact than most heucheras and is excellent for use around trees and shrubs.

Heuchera villosa Tiramisu PPAF

The foliage is mainly chartreuse with a brick red coloring originating from the inside and radiating outward. During the summer, the leaves lighten to chartreuse with a light silver overlay. Tiramisu grows 10 inches in height with a spread about 12 to 15 inches, making it useful as a colorful ground cover displaying white blooms in summer. You will want to plant with 3 plants per mass (triangle form) for best display.

Heuchera Sparkling Burgundy

From fruit to puddings to wine! This is a heuchera with beautiful mounds of glowing foliage that deepens to a warm burgundy, hence the name. Its giant six-inch leaves glow all spring and summer. Multi-seasonal interest begins with bright rose burgundy spring foliage and clean white flowers followed by leaf colors that become orange and white veiled as the season progresses to a final summer color of veiled burgundy and olive tones. The evergreen leaves darken in winter to a rich wine-red.

Heucheras are easy perennials to grow and fit nicely in the front of any border, rock garden, or container. They grow most vigorously and have the strongest colors when grown in partial shade (preferably afternoon shade). By the way, heucheras can be grown under Black Walnut trees because they are resistant to the toxin Juglone which the trees emit from their roots.

If you missed the two previous columns with ideas for easy, colorful perennial gardens, you can find them at my Web site, www.landsteward.org