Monday, July 12, 2010

My Love Affair With Heucheras

Coral Bells, does anyone even remember this name?  As far as I am concerned I am glad it is gone.  I can't tell you how many coral bell plants I purchased only to see them disappear or pop out of the ground during our harsh winters.  The delicate little leaves, spindly flowers and lack of vigor stopped me from using them in my landscape many years ago.

Voila!  The heucheras came into being with an explosion of large leafed villosa hybrids that withstand our winters, take a good amount of sun and delight us with their unusual colors.  I know there are some who do not like the carmels, citronelles, chocolates, mochas and so on.  But, I for one, say hurrah!  We finally have heucheras that blend into our environments, with bright green groundcovers, tan grasses, prairies, fall leaf colors, etc.

12 comments:

Abbie said...

the current issue of Chicagoland Gardening has an article dedicated to huechera love...

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Abbie, I will have to look at this. Heuchera very rarely dissapoints, insects seem to leave them alone, and they add great color to the fall garde.

Eileen

meemsnyc said...

That looks amazing!

allanbecker-gardenguru said...

The new varieties of Villosa Heucheras have foliage so lush and colors so rich that I have begun to use them as border trim where once Hosta would have been the only option.

Dave@TheHomeGarden said...

I'm definitely a fan! I have a challenging spot for hostas and heucheras make a good substitute.

joey said...

I confess ... I'm a addict and love 'em too, Eileen (agree about the coral bells)!

Roses and Lilacs said...

I like the old fashioned coral bells probably because my Mom liked them. She gave me a start long ago. The newer ones are ok too. I was excited about them when the first dark leaved ones were introduced. I hate to be negative about most plants but now, after seeing hundreds of the same thing with different names, I'm less thrilled:)
Marnie

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Marnie,

The flowers are definitely more striking in the Coral Bells but I couldn't seem to keep them alive in our climate.

Even with all of the various colored leaves on the new hybrids, I think my favorite is still Heuchera Villosa Purpurea, the original. It is strong, large leaved with white flowers into the fall.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Joey, I have come across a couple of more deliccate villosas like Georgia Peach and Southern Comfort. I hope I can keep them alive.

Eileen

City Diggity said...

And a very impressive collection of heucheras you have, indeed. Like the citronelle. Happy gardening!

garden girl said...

Autumn Bride was the first villosa I added to the garden - love it, and love the abundant and lovely blooms too. I've become something of heuchera collector - they're wonderful in shade.

The non-villosas do great here - I love Lime Rickey and Obsidian, and I love them together. The color contrast is wonderful. I've had them here for five years, and divided them multiple times. Hollywood has such pretty flowers. Sparkling Burgundy is pretty too. I think the issue is soil more than climate. I've seen that they don't do very well in clay soil, while most of the villosas seem to do fine in it.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Garden Girl, I guess I am not the only one who thinks they are wonderful plants! I have heard that they all look the same or too gaudy, but I do see a distinct difference in each Heuchera. I am really enjoying the different varieties.

Eileen