Heuchera

The genus Heuchera contains a diverse group of plants, many of which are native. Some Heuchera are grown for their ornamental foliage and others for their colorful flowers. The foliage is usually quite evergreen.  Heuchera usually grow best in moist, well-drained soil in part shade. I enjoy growing many different colorful heucheras, but my favorites are Heuchera americana and Heuchera villosa.  Both species are native plants.

Heuchera americana or American Alumroot is native to the eastern part of North America.  I have been growing Heuchera americana from seed taken from 'Dale's Strain.'  The resulting seedlings are very attractive and quire diverse in appearance.  Most of them have striking silver mottling of the leaves.  Heuchera americana has beautiful evergreen leaves with purple mottling of the young foliage.  I especially like this plant in late fall and early winter when its colorful evergreen foliage is a welcome addition to the garden.  Many of the beautiful cultivars offered today are hybrids of Heuchera americana and Heuchera micrantha.

Heuchera villosa or Hairy Alumroot is another of the dependable native heucheras.  It is native to the southeastern part of the U.S.  Heuchera villosa blooms later than Heuchera americana and is usually taller.

The following list includes the Heuchera that we will be offering for 2006.