Heuchera is a perennial plant of the Saxifraga family, native to the highlands of North America. Its natural habitat is poor mountain soils, so heuchera does not require special maintenance conditions.
The flower will decorate any garden thanks to the wide variety of varieties of leaves that differ in color. It is they who give this plant its decorative effect. Heuchera grows as a low, lush bush no more than 30 cm high; flower stalks can grow up to 90 cm. Flowers of red, white, and pink bloom on them. Landscape designers love heuchera and use it to decorate borders, alpine slides, and artificial ponds.
Features of growing heuchera in the garden
It is not difficult to grow heuchera; it does not make any special demands on its maintenance. But some rules will have to be followed in order to preserve the beauty of its leaves, which serve as its main decoration. These rules apply to the soil, lighting and watering of the plant. Heuchera winters well in the garden if it is provided with reliable shelter from frost. It will grow well in almost any soil, as long as it is well-drained.
An important feature of heuchera is its ability to get along with almost all garden plants, so you can choose almost any place, based on how you want to decorate this or that corner of the garden.
There are varieties of heuchera that bloom with inconspicuous small flowers that do not decorate the plant at all. Unless there is a need to collect seeds, it is better to remove flower stalks so that they do not spoil the appearance of the flowerbed.
Heuchera is planted in the ground as seedlings; it is advisable to use seedlings with a closed root system (in pots). At first, it is provided with abundant watering and shading. When the seedlings become stronger, they can be moved to a permanent place.
Planting methods
There are two methods of planting - seeds and seedlings grown from cuttings or taken from a divided old bush. Moreover, planting heuchera with seeds absolutely does not guarantee the preservation of species qualities, especially decorative ones. Therefore, experienced gardeners prefer to plant heuchera seedlings.
Optimal time for planting
Heuchera is usually planted in the ground in the spring, when the last frost has already passed. However, you can do this in the fall, if it is warm and long.
Important! When planting heuchera in the fall, be sure to mulch the soil with wood ash or bark; in the spring, be sure to remove the mulch.
Soil for the plant
Any soil of neutral acidity or even slightly alkaline is suitable for heuchera. The main thing is its water and breathability. To do this, drainage is poured into the hole to a certain depth before planting. Since in nature heuchera grows on rather poor soils, fertile garden soil will give good growth and lushness to its bush.
Features of heuchera care
The main features of care are the feeding regime, the choice of location and lighting, and the need to hill up the plant. Hilling is necessary due to the fact that as the heuchera roots grow, they begin to protrude above the ground and must be covered.
Important! Heuchera needs to be earthed up in the fall, as part of measures to prepare the plant for wintering.
Location and lighting for the plant
For different varieties of heuchera you need to choose a different place. Most often, a plant needs good lighting, but not bright direct rays of the sun, but an openwork shadow. The best place in the garden will be where the sun is only in the morning or evening. Some varieties from too hot sunlight can not only lose the color of the leaves, but also change their shape, which is also one of the components of the decorative qualities of heuchera.
On the contrary, varieties with red and burgundy leaves are best planted in a place where there is more light, because in the shade their leaves may remain green.
Do not plant heuchera in places where melt or rain water can stagnate, the plant may simply rot.
Air humidity
The air humidity in the garden is optimal for plant growth. There is no need to take additional measures to increase it.
How to water correctly
There is no need to water the heuchera too often. It is enough to do this once every two days as the soil dries out and only in dry summers. If the weather is very hot, then watering should be done twice a day - in the morning and in the evening, when the heat subsides.
Important! When watering, avoid getting water on the leaves. They may cause burns.
Feeding and fertilizing the plant
In the first year of life, the young plant does not need feeding at all. You can start fertilizing heuchera in the second year and little by little. This feature of the flower is due precisely to its origin and natural habitat on mountainous rocky poor soils.
Experts say that it is better to underfeed heuchera than to overfeed it. Some recommend fertilizing once a season, others twice, before and after flowering.
For feeding, it is better to use mineral fertilizers, and their concentration should be half that for other plants.
The plant needs pruning, but not the leaves, but the flower stalks.
Trimming methods
In some heuchera varieties, flowering can spoil the beautiful appearance of the flowerbed. Due to the long peduncles and inconspicuous flowers, it takes on an unkempt appearance. Therefore, it is better to cut them off as soon as they appear. If you let the heuchera bloom, then you must remove the flowers along with the long stems.
Heuchera leaves are pruned only in the spring and only those that have dried and died.
Important! In spring, you can cut off old leaves only after new shoots begin to grow.
Pruning for winter
Under no circumstances should heuchera be trimmed in the fall before preparing it for wintering. Old leaves will serve the plant well - they will protect its root system from freezing.
Heuchera transplantation in spring (autumn)
An annual transplant of heuchera is not necessary; it is carried out only for the purpose of rejuvenating the plant. After 4-5 years, the flower loses its decorative qualities, and the bush itself falls apart. That's when he will need a transplant. Transplantation can be done both in early spring and autumn.
Transplant methods
The bush is divided into several parts and planted separately from each other. Before planting, you need to carefully examine the roots and remove any rotten or diseased ones. Sprinkle the sections with ash.
The distance between seedlings should be at least 20-25 cm. Planting is carried out in a hole up to 30 centimeters deep with good drainage and loose soil.
Heuchera is propagated in several ways. Since heuchera does not live very long, its propagation is a way of rejuvenation and preservation of a very beautiful ornamental bush in the garden.
Reproduction methods
Heuchera propagation by cuttings
For cuttings, lateral shoots are taken from heuchera. This should be done after flowering has ended. The cuttings are cut together with a fragment of the rosette. If the shoot is long, it can be cut into short (3-4 cm) parts and the lower sections treated with a root formation stimulator. It is not necessary to dig up the plant for this, unless it is replanted at the same time. When dividing a bush, you can also separate cuttings for propagation. Sections must be treated with ash.
The cuttings are planted in prepared holes in loose peat soil and covered with film, creating greenhouse conditions. The greenhouse should not be too hot. Rooting occurs within about a month.
Important! If the cuttings have taken root closer to autumn, then it is not recommended to plant them in open ground; it is better to leave them over the winter in the cuttings, covering them well with leaves, moss or spruce branches.
Heuchera propagation by seeds
When purchasing seeds for planting, you must take into account that they can sprout only within six months after ripening. It is best to plant seeds in early spring.
Before planting, they must be mixed with wet sand. The soil should be loose. The seeds are not buried, but placed on top of the ground and covered with film. Seedlings need good lighting and constant soil moisture, but without overwatering. The first shoots appear after two weeks.
After the first leaves appear, the seedlings are planted in separate pots. These pots can be dug into the ground in the spring in the place where a permanent place for the heuchera is planned. By autumn they will have their first leaf rosette.
Leaf propagation
Propagation of heuchera by leaves is possible, but it is practically not described in the literature by specialists, and most likely is not practiced.
Reproduction by dividing the bush
This is the most common method of propagation of heuchera. After three to four years of life, the plant must be replanted. To do this, the bush of the old mother specimen is divided into several parts, planted and several new young plants are obtained.
The heuchera is dug out of the bed, the roots are carefully inspected and cleaned of rot. The rhizome is divided into several parts so that each of them has 2-3 rosettes, the stem is cut to new tissue. Cuts on the roots are treated with root.
When preparing the planting site, the hole can be filled with compost and coarse sand or pebbles can be added as drainage. The place where young new bushes will be grown should be well lit, but the light should be diffused. You can cover the seedlings with a wooden box made of slats to provide light shade and good ventilation.
Rooting occurs after one and a half to two months. Then the seedlings can be moved to their permanent place.
Heuchera blooms with small flowers that are of no decorative value, with the exception of some varieties.
When the plant blooms (flowering period), flower shape
It begins to bloom in early summer and ends by early August. Very small flowers of pale, inconspicuous shades are collected in inflorescences in the form of a panicle, crowned by a long peduncle. The exception is the blood-red heuchera, whose flowers are very beautiful.
Problems, diseases and pests of a flower
Heuchera, living in nature in rather harsh conditions, is quite resistant to pests and diseases. During too rainy summers it can be affected by powdery mildew, which is easily removed with the help of fungicides.
The leaves and rhizomes of the plant can be harmed by weevils (they eat thin roots) and slugs that gnaw holes in the leaves. To avoid such problems, you need to sprinkle the ground around the heuchera with sawdust soaked in creolin, or sprinkle the soil with lime, which will repel slugs. Mustard water, which should be sprayed on the bush (1 tablespoon of mustard powder per 1 liter of water), will also be effective against weevils.
Popular types (varieties)
Heuchera blood red
It was from her that the main garden varieties of heuchera came. Its bright red flowers serve as an additional decoration for the plant. It has denser pubescent leaves than other varieties and beautiful bright red or pink small flowers, shaped like a bell.
Heuchera americana
A small bush about 20 cm tall is distinguished by its heart-shaped leaves and beautiful veins on them. The most popular garden variety "Green Spice" with silver veins on a green background. Flowers are not decorative; they need to be removed when flower stalks appear (unless you want to get its seeds).
Heuchera tremulosa
A specially bred hybrid with a wide variety of leaf colors.
Heuchera parviflora
One of the most beautiful types of heuchera, which has several garden varieties. It is distinguished by the shape of a summer leaf, reminiscent of a maple leaf. The variety that is most loved by gardeners is "Purple Palace" with bright purple leaves.
There are no difficulties in growing heuchera, but here are some tips that will help you grow healthy, beautiful flowers that will decorate your garden for a long time.
- Plant heucheras in places where moisture will not stagnate. It is better if these are small mounds. This is especially true for blood-red heuchera; it is most vulnerable in conditions of high soil moisture.
- If you mulch the soil around the heuchera with peat in the spring, during the summer you will not have to constantly fight weeds and often loosen the soil.
- When growing heuchera in a greenhouse, light hygroscopic material can be laid along the arc. It will absorb excess moisture.
- After sowing, the seedlings need to be watered very carefully - only along the walls of the container.
- Before sowing seeds, it is better to calcine the soil or pour boiling water on it. Seeds can only be sown in dry soil.
Plant lifespan
After three to five years, the plant loses its qualities, the bush disintegrates and the heuchera needs to be dug up. The old bush is divided into several parts and planted. Young plants are obtained from them. So heuchera has a long, renewable life cycle.
Why does heuchera grow poorly?
The reason may be too fertile soil or excess fertilizer due to which by autumn a large bush grows and too many buds are laid. Over the winter, the root system weakens and cannot “feed” so many new shoots.
Perhaps some conditions do not meet the requirements (humidity, windy place in the garden, too dark or, conversely, too bright place in the garden).
Flower care in winter
In winter, the flower does not require care, but in the fall you need to take care of it. Pruning is strictly prohibited; the bush is carefully covered with foliage or spruce branches. It is imperative to mulch the soil with compost or rotted tree bark. You can add wood ash. In spring, the mulch is removed.
Heuchera or spotted geranium is a genus of herbaceous rhizomatous perennials of the Saxifraga family. The flower received its name in honor of the German professor of botany and medicine I. G. Geicher. This plant is native to North America.
This plant began to decorate gardens and parks relatively recently; previously it was known as mountain undergrowth and was used to heal wounds and ulcers.
Heuchera has become popular in landscape design due to the variety of colors of its velvety leaves that overwinter under the snow. Delicate flowers that remain decorative throughout the summer complemented its beauty.
Heuchera is a rounded shrub consisting of several rosettes with bright, long-petioled leathery leaves. Over time, the number of rosettes on the plant increases and in a 3-5 year old flower their number reaches several dozen. The patch size reaches 60 centimeters in diameter. The height of the plant, depending on the variety, ranges from 20 to 100 centimeters.
The leaf stalks are long. The leaves are round, of various colors, often greenish-red. The edges are jagged. The redness is most noticeable on young, unfolding foliage and in the fall, after frost. During the season, the color and texture of the leaves changes up to 10 times. There may be patterns, shapeless spots, small dots, and veins on the surface of the plates. The leaves are winter-green, replaced in late April - early May.
The plant blooms in early summer. Red-brown peduncles reach a height of 60-100 centimeters. The openwork panicle inflorescence consists of a large number of miniature bells. Flower colors can be red, white, pink and white. Red-flowered species are the most common, white-flowered species are less common.
In autumn, fruit boxes with very small seeds appear in place of the buds. There are about 20 thousand seeds in 1 gram.
Types and varieties of heuchera with photos
The genus Heuchera includes more than 70 species of this plant. They, in turn, are divided into mountain and forest species. Of these, the most popular types include the following:
H.sanquinea Engelm This mountain species is hardy and is considered the ancestor of most heuchera varieties and hybrids.
The leaves are dense, round, jagged at the ends. The color is green or spotted. Some of the varieties are distinguished by light green or cream marbling.
Peduncles reach half a meter in height. Red, white, pink or coral bell buds are collected in a panicle.
H. grossulariifolia The leaves are similar to gooseberry leaves, collected in 15-centimeter rosettes. They have 3 or 5 blades measuring 7 centimeters.
Peduncles 60 centimeters high. The buds are large and snow-white.
H. villosa The velvety leaves of this species are triangular in shape. They are large in size, reaching 20 centimeters. Their ends are pointed. The leaves change color over the course of the season from green to bronze, and in some varieties they are chocolate-colored. The petioles of the leaves and pale pink peduncles are pubescent.
The flowers are white, pink or creamy green.
H. micrantha This species has wedge-shaped leaves. The color is purple, bronze, some varieties have silver speckles. In winter the leaves are rounded, in summer they are branched.
The inflorescence is a panicle 60 centimeters high. The flowers are small, creamy pink. Anthers orange. Buds appear by the end of spring, the plant blooms for 2 months.
H. cylindrica This tall species is easy to care for. The leaves are green or coral, with a silver pattern or contrasting veins. The shape is heart-shaped, round.
Peduncles reach 1 meter in height. The flowers are collected in the form of a cylinder, small, delicate colors.
H. americana Leaf rosette 20 centimeters high. The leaves are heart-shaped or rounded and brownish-purple in color. At the first autumn frosts, a bright crimson border forms on them.
Peduncles reach half a meter in height. The buds are yellowish-green.
H. hybrida This is an interspecific hybrid obtained by crossing blood red, American and small-flowered varieties. The plants are larger than the blood red variety.
The leaves are often green, with veins of contrasting shades. You can also find speckled varieties with a beautiful cream pattern.
Peduncles are tall. The buds are white, coral or pink. Flowering lasts most of the summer.
Shaky
It is a colorful hybrid with varied foliage colors. The leaves are voluminous.
The flowers are large. Color varies from white to red. Flowering lasts up to 2 months.
About 400 varieties of this beautiful plant are known, the most popular of which include:
Variety Marmalade This variety is considered one of the most common. The dense leaves have a carved texture. They are collected in a lush basal rosette. The upper part of the leaf is colored in orange, yellow, bright red and red tones, and the inner side is purple.
The height of the peduncles is 30 centimeters. The buds are greenish.
A low, slowly growing bush, no more than 20 centimeters high. Matte leaves are rounded, wavy, and change color as they age. From orange or reddish they become greenish-yellow.
Peduncles are brown. Flowers are coral or red.
Forever Purple Purple bushes are 30 centimeters high and 55 centimeters wide. The leaves have an openwork frame. The purple color does not change throughout the growing season.
Bell-shaped small buds are located on low peduncles. They are collected in panicles and are colored in a light purple hue. Flowers are barely noticeable among the leaves.
Glitter The bush reaches a height of 25 centimeters. In spring, pink foliage blooms on the bush; over time, it turns silver. The leaves become silver with black veins. The reverse side of the leaf is lavender in color.
The buds are large, similar to fuchsia. They bloom from June to early September.
Zipper
Zipper Multi-colored heuchera is distinguished by orange, golden and amber hues. The leaves change color over time. In spring they are orange, in summer they are golden. The underside of the leaf is purple. Flowering begins in July. The bell buds are cream or white.
Cappuccino variety The bush is compact and low. The leaves are wavy, coffee-mustard. The edges are jagged. Over time, the color of the leaves acquires green shades.
Peduncles 0.5 meters high. The flowers are small and inconspicuous.
Cajun Fire The bush is fast growing, 25 centimeters high.
This fiery beauty changes the color of its large matte leaves. In early spring they are bright red. In summer they are reddish-black, and in autumn they turn burgundy.
The flowers are white buds towering above the bush. Flowering lasts from early June to late July.
Variety Melting Fire The bush is compact, consists of wavy leaves forming a rosette. In spring, the blossoming leaves are purple-reddish. Over time, they darken and become brighter, more saturated in color. The underside of the leaf is reddish.
Peduncles erect. The buds are small, openwork, snow-white, similar to miniature bells.
Variety Caramel The bush is low, grows up to 30 centimeters. Large leaves are golden-orange in color. In spring they turn bright red. Over time they become yellow or amber. The scarlet tint remains on the reverse side.
Flowering is rare, but lush. The buds are cream or soft pink.
Variety Amethyst Mist The bushes reach a meter in height. Wine-colored leaves with silver specks. Flowering lasts from late May to mid-July.
Rio variety The height of the bush is 20 centimeters, width 30 centimeters. The leaves change color throughout the season from pinkish-green to orange or bright red.
Snow-white flowers Flowering period May - August.
This hybrid has leaves that are purple on top and beetroot-colored underneath. The shape resembles a Norway maple or ivy. In hot summers the leaves turn bronze.
Bell-shaped beige buds are collected in panicles. Peduncles are erect.
Variety Comet This is a hybrid variety that is resistant to heat and cold. The leaves are jagged, rounded, with a delicate edge. They emerge from the rhizome and form a rosette.
The peduncle is smooth, 40 centimeters high. The bell buds are small and red. Flowering lasts up to 3 months.
Variety Midnight Rose The shrub is miniature, 25 centimeters high. It is distinguished by the rich dark burgundy color of its heart-shaped foliage. Pink spots are scattered on the leaves.
The plant blooms in early June. The buds resemble small bells.
Variety Purple Castle This is a hardy small-flowered variety. Bush 50 centimeters high. The leaves are large, burgundy-purple with a silver tint. The roots are branched. The flowers are snow-white.
For different varieties of heuchera, it is necessary to choose a suitable place for planting. Most often, a flower needs good lighting with a little darkening.
Some varieties lose their decorative qualities from hot sunlight.
Red and burgundy varieties, on the contrary, prefer bright light, since their leaves turn green in the shade.
Water should not accumulate at the planting site, otherwise the plant will die.
Any soil is suitable for planting, either neutral acidity or slightly alkaline. It should allow water and air to pass well to the roots of the plants. To do this, drainage from coarse sand or fine gravel is poured into the planting holes.
The plant is planted in the ground as seedlings. It is best to take seedlings with a protected root system (in peat pots) for these purposes.
Plants are planted in the ground after the last spring frosts. In warm regions, this procedure can be carried out in the fall. When planting in autumn, the soil must be mulched with ash or bark. In the spring, after the snow melts, the mulch is removed.
Where and how to plant heuchera in the garden: video
The main features of care are fertilizing, watering and hilling.
You need to hill up the bushes in the fall, when preparing them for wintering. In addition, Gerhera requires pruning of flower stalks and foliage.
Inconspicuous flowers of some varieties spoil the beautiful appearance of flower beds. Therefore, flower stalks are removed immediately after appearance. If the heuchera has already bloomed, then the flowers are removed along with the stems.
Old, dead and dry leaves are cut off in the spring, after young shoots begin to grow.
You can’t prune heuchera in the fall! The old leaves of the flower protect the roots of the plant from freezing.
During the dry period, the heuchera needs to be watered once every 2 days as the soil dries out. In very hot weather, watering is carried out 2 times a day - in the morning and in the evening.
When watering, water should not get on the leaves, otherwise burns will form on them.
If you mulch the ground around the flower with peat in the spring, then in the summer you will not need to frequently loosen the soil and remove weeds.
In the first year of growth, heuchera does not need feeding. You can fertilize the flower a year after planting. Fertilizing is carried out twice a season (before and after flowering). For this purpose, a small amount of complex mineral fertilizers is used.
Reproduction
Heuchera is propagated by seeds, dividing the bush and cuttings. Planting seeds in the ground does not guarantee the preservation of varietal qualities. Therefore, growing plants in seedlings is considered the most suitable.
The viability of heuchera seeds remains for six months after collection. To preserve their viability for a longer period, when harvested, they are placed in a foil envelope and sent to a cool, dark place. In this case, the seeds can be used for 1.5 years. Sowing is done in early spring.
For planting, take a box or container with drainage holes. It is filled with an earth-peat mixture, which is poured with a hot solution of potassium permanganate or foundation. After the moisture has drained into it, you can sow the heuchera.
Before sowing, the seeds are mixed with wet sand. They are distributed on the surface of the soil and covered with glass or transparent film. At a temperature of + 20-22 degrees, the first shoots appear after 2 weeks.
A phytolamp is installed next to the sprouted seedlings for additional lighting.
The soil is moistened as it dries. It should be poured along the edge of the container, the water should not get on the plants.
After 3-4 leaves appear, the plants are planted in peat pots. After the plants have grown and become stronger, they can be planted directly in pots in open ground. Planting takes place at the end of May or June.
The distance between plants is 20-30 centimeters. They need to be planted in holes 30 centimeters deep. First, a layer of drainage is poured onto the bottom of the holes.
By autumn, the first leaf rosettes will form on the plants and they will easily survive the winter.
Dividing the bush
This method is considered the most effective, as it allows you to fully preserve the decorative qualities of the flower.
The plant does not require annual replanting; it is carried out for propagation and rejuvenation of the flower. After 3-5 years, heuchera loses its decorative qualities and the bush falls apart. During this period, the plant requires replanting. It is held in early spring or autumn.
The bush is carefully divided into parts without the use of sharp objects. The roots are checked for diseases and rot, and treated with root and crushed activated carbon or ash. After which the plants are planted in a new place.
To plant cuttings, shoots growing on the sides are taken. They are pruned after the heuchera has finished flowering. The cuttings are cut together with part of the rosette. Long shoots are divided into parts, the length of which should be 3-4 centimeters. The lower sections are treated with a root formation stimulator, and the upper ones with ash or activated carbon.
The cuttings are planted in peat soil and covered with a transparent film. In a month, the plants will take root.
Cuttings that have taken root closer to September are not recommended to be planted in flower beds. They spend the winter in a greenhouse.
Heuchera has good resistance to various pests and diseases. But in rainy weather it can be affected by powdery mildew, spotting, rust and oidium. Fungicides help fight powdery mildew.
Spotting, odium and rust can be eliminated by spraying the plant 2 times a month with a solution of Bordeaux mixture.
Stagnant water, excess organic fertilizers and acidic soil provoke root rot. At the first signs of wilting, it is necessary to cut the rosette down to healthy tissue, leaving a minimum of foliage, and root the resulting cutting in the standard way.
The leaves and roots of the plant can be damaged by slugs, weevils, snails and nematodes. To avoid these problems, the ground around the plants must be sprinkled with slaked lime or sawdust soaked in creolin, this will repel slugs and snails. Mustard water, which is sprayed on the bush (a spoonful of dry mustard per liter of water), helps against weevils.
In case of severe damage by any insects, you can use insecticides (Aktara, Iskra or Aktellik).
It is strictly forbidden to prune heuchera for the winter. Plants are sprucing up. The soil around is covered with a layer of mulch made from compost or rotted tree bark with the addition of ash. Plants are additionally covered with a layer of dry leaves, sawdust, pine needles or spruce branches.
In spring, the cover and mulch are removed.
Heuchera is used in shrub and flower mixborders. It is used in the design of rock gardens, borders, rockeries, and coastal areas of artificial reservoirs. This plant can hide any problem areas. Heuchera is grown in containers and flowerpots, and decorates terraces, gazebos, and patios. It looks beautiful among ferns, lilies, roses, irises, sedium, speedwell, daylilies, crocuses, chrysanthemums, tulips, brunera, daffodils, astilbe, hosta, primrose, geranium, and ornamental grasses.
Heuchera in landscape design connects other flowers and plants. Among the variety of heuchera varieties, you can easily choose the one that will decorate a particular flower garden and will be combined with other plants.
Heuchera can decorate any garden. This beautiful flower connects other plants and fills in any areas that need touching up. Growing this plant is not difficult. This perennial grows quite quickly and delights with the rich colors of its leaves, and some varieties and flowers.
Growing heuchera in open ground is not at all difficult; you just need to choose the right place to plant the plant. Many varieties grow and reproduce well even in the mountainous regions of North America, so caring for heuchera in our latitudes is very simple, because it can grow even on rocky soil. In addition, its decorativeness and versatility will add new shades to any landscape design.
Description of heuchera: varieties and varieties
So, what is this miracle - heuchera? An evergreen perennial plant 40-60 cm high. The leaves are medium in size, round in shape, sit on long petioles and form a rosette at the root. Heuchera blooms from late May until autumn. The flowers form an inflorescence-panicle about 20 cm long. After flowering, fruit-pods with seeds are formed.
Heuchera decorative foliage
Cultivated heuchera varieties can be divided into two categories:
- decorative deciduous;
- decorative flowering.
Heuchera is decorative with its foliage: no other plant has such a variety of palettes and leaf textures. Heuchera flowers are noticeably inferior to leaves, but there are varieties that are valued specifically for their inflorescences; they create a magnificent color contrast with the foliage of the plant.
To date, about 400 varieties of heuchera have already been bred; their shades and varieties will satisfy the most sophisticated taste and will find their place in any landscape design.
At the moment, cylindrical, American and blood red heuchera varieties are especially popular. Now let's look at these varieties in more detail with photos.
Planting a plant
Before planting, you need to choose a place and prepare the soil. Heuchera goes well with other perennials and is not aggressive towards them, so it can be safely planted in company with other types of plants or plant a flower bed of different varieties of heuchera.
The plant feels great in any neighborhood
The plant prefers light and nutritious soils where water does not stagnate. Acidic soil does not suit it. Before planting, you need to add coarse river sand or pebbles to the soil. Seedlings should be planted in May at a distance of 20-25 cm and watered regularly, but not over-watered, otherwise the plant may die. You can plant heuchera in open ground with seeds, cuttings, or by separating the rosette of an adult bush.
Plant care
As for care, in this regard, heuchera is very unpretentious. But there are some conditions, and these are:
- diffuse shadow;
- deep drainage;
- permeable soil.
Heuchera, planted in the shade of trees or in partial shade, will retain its decorative effect, since it needs the sun in the morning. It is worth planting varieties with red leaves in sunny areas; in the sun they will turn red, but in the shade they will remain green. But many varieties adapt to the sun - the silvery mosaic of their foliage acquires a more saturated color, and heucheras with purple foliage darken.
In the shade, heuchera leaves will take on rich shades.
Heuchera has a superficial root system, so it is important to protect the roots from drying out. It is best to use mulching. Mulch will retain moisture, the soil under it breathes and is structured by soil inhabitants. Straw, sawdust, compost, tree bark, foliage, expanded clay screenings, gravel, and peat can be used as mulch.
The soil must be permeable - stagnation of water can cause the plant to get sick and die. Therefore, you should take care of drainage even when planting the plant.
Aging heuchera bushes lose their decorative properties - the middle of the bush becomes exposed. In this case, you need to rejuvenate the bush: dig up the plant, divide it into parts and plant it. This should be done at the end of summer after flowering or in spring before the leaves bloom. Heuchera tolerates these manipulations painlessly and immediately begins to grow.
Mulching the soil will help heuchera maintain moisture balance.
Dried foliage is not removed in winter - it helps the plant to overwinter, covers the roots and retains heat. Remove only inflorescences with seeds - after flowering they spoil the decorative appearance. In the future, the collected seeds can be used for propagation and cultivation of heuchera in open ground. Varieties with light foliage and young bushes need to be additionally covered with foliage for the winter.
Advice. Water the plants early in the morning or evening; drops of water in the sun can cause burns on the leaves.
Fertilizer and feeding of heuchera
Before human cultivation, heuchera grew in the mountains, where the soil was rather poor. Modern varieties are still not far removed from their wild relatives, so they do not complain about the low amount of nutrients in the soil. Mineral fertilizers are rarely used. It is better to limit yourself to one feeding in the spring in the first year after planting. If you did not do this in the spring, then feed the heuchera with a mineral complex fertilizer for deciduous plants at the end of the growing season. After applying fertilizer, be sure to water the bushes.
There is no need to regularly feed the plant
Important. When applying fertilizers, be sure to reduce the dose by half from that recommended by the manufacturer on the packaging.
Plant propagation
Propagation by dividing the bush is the simplest method, which preserves the decorative properties of the variety. This is done early in spring or autumn. Separate the rosette from the adult plant and replant it a little deeper than the mother plant was planted.
The second method is cuttings. In summer, a cutting of 4-6 cm in size is cut from the bush and rooted in a greenhouse. The process takes 3-4 weeks, after which the finished plant can be planted.
Dividing a heuchera bush
Diseases and pests
As for diseases, heuchera is unique in that it practically does not get sick in the open ground, and is rarely affected by pests. But sometimes it can suffer from powdery mildew, rust, gray rot or leaf spot. This can happen if the plant is watered frequently or the soil is poorly drained and water stagnates at the roots, creating an ideal environment for pathogens to develop. From excess fertilizers, the plant “fattens”, which leads to weakened immunity. Powdery mildew can be defeated by spraying with a fungicide, after removing diseased leaves, and Bordeaux mixture can cope with spotting and rust.
Rust on a heuchera leaf
As for pests, the danger to the plant is larvae of the cockchafer, which can gnaw the roots, grape snails, slugs, caterpillars and leaf nematodes, which can be gotten rid of with an insecticide.
Advice. During the day, slugs hide in secluded places from the sun, so you can place a board, slate, cardboard or a piece of old linoleum near the heuchera, and collect slugs under them in the morning.
Heuchera: combination with other plants
Thanks to the contrasting combination of heuchera leaves with the leaves of other plants, you can create unique compositions. Heuchera is planted with hostas, cupenas, ferns, hellebores, daylilies, and combined with ornamental cereals, brunera, irises, and barberries.
Heuchera will decorate your garden even in the fall, when other plants have faded.
Heuchera goes well with tall coniferous plants and acts as a complement to short roses. In the spring it is good to place with tulips: after they bloom, the flowerbed is not empty.
Heuchera in landscape design
Don't be afraid to experiment with planting heuchera in your area. Like precious stones, heuchera will decorate any flower garden; no other flower crop has such a rich palette with an abundance of colors and shades.
A huge advantage of heuchera is its decorative effect throughout the growing season and ease of care. Heuchera is grown both in single plantings of the same species and in mixed ones, and is used as a perennial ground cover plant. Having a compact bush form, heuchera is an ideal companion for combination with other plants. This is a real find for those cases when you need to fill space in a flower garden or emphasize the advantages of another plant, or highlight the planting of coniferous plants.
Heuchera in landscape design
Heuchera does not lose its decorative shape with age, so it will ideally fit into flower beds of strict geometric shapes and disguise unsightly areas. Heuchera is suitable for creating alpine slides, rocky gardens, borders, decorating terraces and gazebos. It can be used to decorate garden sculptures, slides and fountains. Often used for planting in front flower beds.
In the first year after planting, heuchera will be difficult to appreciate its merits in landscape design - just planted, it will not yet become such a lush beauty, but already in the next season you will be able to enjoy the density of colors.
Heuchera varieties and their cultivation: video
Heuchera: photo
Heuchera is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the Saxifraga family. In its natural environment it lives in rocky areas of North America. The name is given in honor of the German doctor, botanist Johann Heinrich von Heicher.
Heuchera is a compact bush about 50 cm high with exquisite, luxurious leaves that change color during the growing season, more than once. No other plant can compare with its rich palette and varied combinations of variegated colors.
The leaves are leathery, attached on long petioles, and have serrated edges. They can be smooth, corrugated, curly. The leaves can be bright red, almost black, maroon, amber, pink, purple, yellow, green, silver with stripes, speckles, speckles, and patterns.
There are decorative deciduous and decorative flowering heucheras. Small bell-shaped flowers are painted white, cream, red, they are collected in paniculate inflorescences. Flowering will last all summer, it can bloom until frost. The fruit is a capsule filled with small seeds (1 g contains about 20,000 seeds).
Growing heuchera from seeds When to sow seedlings
Heuchera is propagated by seed and vegetative methods.
Heuchera ‘Marvellous Marble’
Heuchera ‘Marvellous Marble’ photo
The fantastic coloring of the leaves of the Marvelous marble variety Heuchera ‘Marvellous Marble’ combines shades of silver, purple, pink and green. The marble pattern, with clear delineation of expressive veins, attracts the eye even from afar.
Today, heuchera is at the peak of its fame and interest in it does not wane every year. This is well deserved - the number of varieties has exceeded a hundred and they are all different from each other. The color of the leaves surprises with the play of shades - scarlet, green-silver, wine, yellow-green. How can you not be tempted and start collecting your collection!
Popular types and varieties
Heuchera is a herbaceous perennial up to 0.5 m high with a fleshy rhizome and serrated leaves. The leaves are collected in basal rosettes. The flowers are located on a long peduncle and form panicle inflorescences up to 20 cm high. They are colored red, pink, white, greenish-cream.
Heuchera is native to North America. There, in wooded areas, on river banks and in mountainous areas, about 70 species known today grow.
An unpretentious and frost-resistant species with dense green or spotted leaves and scarlet miniature flowers.
Heuchera varieties "Monet" forms a compact rosette of dense, jagged green leaves with a white pattern. The flowers are small pink, crimson or red, collected in a panicle up to 20 cm in length.
In heuchera varieties " Hercules» bright green leaves with white speckles. Bright red inflorescences stand out against their background. This variety blooms for almost 2 months.
Heuchera parviflora
The most spectacular and elegant heuchera. This is a plant for decorating the foreground in flower beds. It stands out for its bright maple-shaped leaves of red-brown color. Silvery spots may appear against the main background. Many small flowers located on a high peduncle are cream-colored.
Famous variety " Purple Castle"received its name for the rich dark burgundy shade of large glossy leaves.
She is loved for her beautiful and long-lasting flowering. There are many large, drooping flowers on tall and strong peduncles. They resemble in shape and are colored white, coral and pink. Small green or silver-green leaves form compact bushes.
Red inflorescences of the variety " Rocket"They delight with flowering from mid-summer to September. The leaves of the plant are bright green.
An unpretentious mountain species with green, heart-shaped leaves and silvery veins. Tall flower stalks grow up to 1 m. The flowers are small, white-green or coral in color.
« Greenfinch" - one of the cultivars of Heuchera cylindrical. It has wavy green leaves and burgundy veins. White-green flowers bloom in July-August.
It stands out for its large leaves, up to 20 cm, covered with hairs and pale pink or white inflorescences.
Will not get lost in the shady heuchera garden " Brownness" Large velvety leaves are collected in large rosettes. Their color has a complex green-brown-red tint.
This species is distinguished by excellent health - resistant to diseases and pests. Tolerates low winter temperatures in the Central climate. The foliage is shaped like leaves. The flowers of this species are large and white.
American hybrids
This is the most numerous and beautiful group. The leaves of these heucheras resemble luxurious ones. Depending on the variety, their color can be solid green or a complex combination of several shades. The combination of leaves, unusual in shape and color, with delicate inflorescences leaves no one indifferent.
Popular hybrid "Marmalade» will enliven the flower garden with corrugated leaves of red-yellow-orange color and white flowers.
Heuchera leaves look like flashes of bright crimson " Rachel." Her flowering is just as bright.
Heuchera wavy leaves "Cancan" compared to the full skirts of dancers. The leaves are red-brown above and crimson below. It blooms with small cream flowers in June-July.
Growing from seeds
Sowing is carried out in the spring - in March or April. The substrate must be light. Vermiculite or perlite are good soil looseners. Water will not stagnate if the soil contains 30% of these materials.
The boxes are filled with prepared soil and moistened with a spray bottle. Then the seeds are distributed over the surface, not planting deeply, but lightly pressing them into the soil. Seeds need light to germinate.
The boxes are covered with a plastic bag and placed in a well-lit place. The crops are ventilated and watered, preventing them from drying out. Seedlings appear gradually - within 2-3 weeks the maximum number of seedlings will germinate.
They are planted in separate pots or spacious boxes after 2-3 true leaves appear. Seedlings are planted in the ground, maintaining an interval between bushes of at least 20 cm. Grown from seeds, plants bloom after 3 years.
Choosing a place and soil for planting
Heuchera grows well in fertile, loose soils with neutral acidity pH 5.5–6.5. Water should not stagnate in the soil, otherwise the rhizomes will quickly begin to rot. To drain excess moisture, deep drainage is arranged in the planting areas.
Sites for heuchera are chosen so that the plants are well lit in the first half of the day. In the sun the leaves become brighter. Some varieties prefer partial shade or shaded areas. Heuchera is often planted in the garden in the trunks of fruit trees and shrubs.
Planting in open ground
Young seedlings in the climate of the Central zone are planted in open ground no earlier than the end of May. By this time, warm weather will have established and the risk of frost returning is minimal.
At the planting site, holes are prepared with a width and depth of 30 cm. For drainage, pieces of broken red brick or a layer of expanded clay are placed at the bottom of the holes. Garden soil is mixed with compost or humus, and ash is added. Dry shoots of seedlings are cut off and long roots are shortened. If there is damage on them, then these parts are also cut off. The cut areas are sprinkled with crushed charcoal.
The bushes are planted in holes and watered. At first, monitor the soil moisture; it should not dry out, and shade the small rosettes from the hot sun. Within 1.5–2 months, young heuchera will form a root system.
Care
Watering
Both waterlogging and overdrying of the soil are harmful to heuchera. In hot weather, the bushes are watered abundantly 2-3 times a week. After watering, the plants are loosened superficially so as not to damage the small roots. Mulching with plant residues and peat retains moisture well.
Feeding
Under natural conditions, heuchera can grow in poor soils. But in cultivation, in order for plants to show their decorative properties, they need additional nutrition.
Fertilizing should be moderate; excessive use of fertilizers leads to the occurrence of diseases.
On soils rich in organic matter, the first year of heuchera can do without fertilizing. Subsequently, the plants are fed with mineral complexes. The concentration of nutrients should be 2 times less than recommended in the instructions. During the summer, it is useful to dust young bushes with ash several times.
Transfer
Heuchera needs to be rejuvenated every 3-4 years. With a longer period of cultivation, the plant looks less decorative, becomes smaller, overwinters worse and may die.
In spring, heuchera roots and young rosettes often protrude to the soil surface and become bare. Therefore, every year the bushes are hilled up or an additional layer of earth is added around them.
Trimming
In young and immature plants, as well as in varieties valued for the beauty of their foliage, emerging flower stalks are cut off. This will save energy for the heucheras. They will direct them not to flowering and ripening seeds, but to increasing leaf mass. In varieties with beautiful flowers, pruning faded flower stalks stimulates the appearance of new ones.
During the summer, as young leaves grow, old foliage is gradually cut off. For winter, shoots and leaves of heuchera are not cut off.
Shelter for the winter
Some varieties, especially those with light leaves, and young heucheras need winter shelter. It will protect the bushes not only from frost, but also from spring burns. In the fall, the soil around the plant is covered with a layer of moss or mulch, and on top with spruce branches or lutrasil. The shelter should not be dense, otherwise the heucheras may dry out.
Plants that were planted in containers are brought indoors for the winter. A basement or a glazed and insulated terrace is suitable for this.
Reproduction
Heuchera reproduces by seeds and vegetatively - by cuttings and dividing the bush.
Heucheras are easy to propagate seeds, but it must be taken into account that varietal characteristics are not completely preserved with this method. Seeds are purchased at the store or collected from your own plants. They have a limited shelf life, maximum germination lasts for 6 months. The seeds are round, black, and resemble poppy seeds.
Dividing the bush – The easiest and most reliable way to propagate Heuchera.
In May or early September, the bush is dug up, long roots and rotten areas are pruned. The heuchera is divided into several parts with a sharp knife. The cuttings are immediately planted, deepening them down to the growing young leaves. New plantings are watered and protected with lutrasil. After 2 weeks, the divisions will strengthen in their new place and shelter will no longer be needed.
By cuttings you can get a larger number of new plants from one bush.
Before or after flowering, shoots 5–8 cm long are cut from the bushes, the lower sections are sprinkled with crushed charcoal or “Kornevin” and planted in a box filled with a damp and loose substrate or sand.
The top of the cuttings is covered with a plastic bag or glass jar. The rooting process will take 3–4 weeks.
As cuttings, you can take rosettes with pieces of the stem and part of the adventitious roots. The sections are treated with Kornevin and the rosettes are planted in a mini-greenhouse for 1–1.5 months. During this time, new roots will grow and the plants can be planted in a permanent place.
Pests, diseases
The causes of heuchera diseases are increased acidity, excess organic matter in the soil and stagnant water. This leads to the emergence root rot, powdery mildew, rust And leaf spot.
In case of rot, emergency measures are taken: watering is reduced, diseased parts are cut off from affected bushes, healthy tissues are treated with fungicides. To preserve the plant in case of severe damage, cut off healthy rosettes and root them.
Fungicides also help control powdery mildew. For rust and leaf spots, use Bordeaux mixture.
Heucheras love caterpillars, slugs And snails. They gnaw out strong and juicy leaves. If there are few pests, they can be collected manually and destroyed. In case of mass invasion, they are dealt with using insecticides.
The carved and wavy foliage of heuchera gives the garden a special airiness. All season long they decorate borders, rock gardens, mixborders, and coastal areas. Heucheras look harmonious in composition with shrubs, beauties, ferns, etc.
You will learn more about heuchera from the video.
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