Heuchera: planting and care in open ground, photos and cultivation features

Heuchera is a genus of herbaceous perennials of the Saxifraga family. The culture is named after Heinrich von Heicher, a German physician and biologist. The origin of heuchera is the rocky slopes of North America. These are low shrubs that attract attention with the variety of colors of decorative leaves.

Heuchera became a decoration for gardens and private plots not very long ago. Today it is actively used in landscape design. There are very few ornamental crops that have such a palette of shades and as many combination options as heuchera. Growing this crop is not difficult. If you provide proper care for the site, you can admire the lush foliage until the cold weather.

Types and varieties of heuchera for open ground

Heucheras can be divided into mountain and forest ones. They are decorative-flowering and decorative-deciduous. The genus includes about 70 species, on the basis of which more than 400 varieties have already been bred. At the moment, several varieties of heuchera are popular for cultivation in open ground.

Blood red (sanguinea)

A mountain species with dense green leaves and red flowers. Most hybrid varieties come from it. The shape of the leaves of the blood-red heuchera is rounded, the ends are serrated. Some varieties have cream or white specks on the leaves. The plant is popular in mid-latitudes due to its cold resistance.

Hairy (villosa)

Characterized by large, velvety triangular foliage. The leaves are about 20 cm long and can change color from green to bronze during the growing season. Peduncles are pubescent, with white, pink or creamy green flowers.

Cylindrical

A tall mountain species up to 0.9 m long. The leaves are green, round-heart-shaped with a silvery pattern. The flower stalks are about 1 m high and bear white, pink or creamy-green flowers, collected in the form of a cylinder.

Popular varieties:

Greenfinch,
Hyperion.

Small-flowered (micrantha)

It has wedge-shaped leaves, shaped like maple leaves. On top they are covered with silvery spots. The inflorescences are paniculate, bloom on tall peduncles. The flowers are small, beige-pink with orange anthers. They bloom in late spring and bloom for about 2 months.

American

It is also called mountain geranium. The leaf blades are heart-shaped, forming a rosette 20 cm high. Their surface is brownish-purple. Peduncles reach a length of 0.5 m. Yellow-green flowers bloom on them, forming panicles.

Hybrid

An interspecific hybrid, which was obtained by crossing American, blood-red and small-flowered heuchera. The leaves are predominantly green, with contrasting veins. White, coral, pink or red flowers bloom on tall peduncles. Flowering lasts about 2 months.

Popular varieties:

Cappuccino,
Cancan,
Ruby Vale.

Heuchera varieties for the middle zone with photos and names

Popular varieties of heuchera are already quite common in gardens; they can even be seen in city parks and squares. Let's take a closer look at our gardeners' favorites.

Heuchera Marmalade

Heuchera Marmalade Heuchera 'Marmalade' photo

The greenish-marsh tint of the leaves turns into blood-red, the inflorescences are small and inexpressive, the whole decorative effect of the variety lies in its bright, showy leaves, creating a refreshing contrast against the background of its green neighbors.

Heuchera Berry Smoothie

Heuchera Berry Smoothie photo

Yellow-pink, with peach notes, the color of the leaves of the Heuchera Berry Smoothie variety fascinates with its fantastic tenderness and charm.

Heuchera midnight rose select Midnight rose Select

Heuchera midnight rose select Midnight rose Select photo

No less charming is the Midnight Rose Select variety, with purple-colored leaves dotted with chaotic spots of soft pink color.

Heuchera Velvet Night Heuchera Velvet Night

Heuchera Velvet Night Heuchera Velvet Night photo

The dark purple leaves of the Velvet Night variety Heuchera Velvet Night are almost black in color, making them truly reminiscent of night twilight.

Heuchera 'Zipper'

Heuchera 'Zipper' photo

The yellow-green leaves of the Zipper variety Heuchera 'Zipper' have a purplish color on the underside of the leaf blade, and the leaves themselves have a three-fingered dissection with a coarsely toothed wavy edge.

Heuchera 'Amethyst Myst'

Heuchera 'Amethyst Myst' photo

The delicate shade of purple-pink color of the leaves of the Amethyst Myst variety Heuchera 'Amethyst Myst' looks luxurious against the background of neighboring brunners; periwinkle and ajuga will be good companions.

Growing from seeds to seedlings

If you grow heuchera from seeds, it is better to do it in seedlings. The seeds remain viable for six months after collection. If you store them in foil, the shelf life can be extended to 1.5 years. Heuchera seeds do not require stratification, so they can be sown for seedlings in March.

Soil and container

For planting, it is better to choose wide containers with holes in the bottom for good drainage. Their height should not be less than 5 cm. Plastic cups or peat pots and containers are suitable. They need to be filled with an earthen-peat mixture. You can take a universal soil and add sand or perlite to it for looseness. Pre-treat the soil with a fungicide or potassium permanganate solution for disinfection. Allow the soil to dry slightly before sowing.

Heuchera seeds are very small; to obtain more uniform germination, it is recommended to mix them with sand. Scatter them over the surface of the moistened soil; do not deepen them. Cover the crops with film or glass on top and transfer to a warm place.

Seedling care

If good conditions are provided, seedlings will appear in 2-3 weeks. To germinate heuchera, you need good lighting, a temperature of +20-22 degrees. Protect seedlings from drafts. From time to time, open the container with crops for ventilation. When the sprouts appear, the cover is not removed at all, but only raised, and holes can be made in the film. After 3 true leaves have grown, the seedlings are planted in separate containers. It is important to keep the soil constantly moist, but not to flood it.

In mid-May, seedlings need to be gradually accustomed to fresh air. It is taken out to a shaded place for a while. After the plants are well established, they are planted directly in pots in open soil.

Transplanting

Heuchera can be planted outside when warm weather finally sets in and the soil warms up. It is best to do this in May. Before planting, it is recommended to loosen the soil and add coarse river sand to it. Plant the seedlings together with peat pots in pre-prepared holes, maintaining intervals of 20-25 cm. A layer of drainage is poured onto the bottom of the holes.

Origin of Heuchera

The genus Heuchera has about 70 species distributed in North America. These are rhizomatous perennial herbaceous plants up to 50 cm tall. The leaves are collected in a basal rosette, five to nine lobed, serrated. Plants develop numerous flower stalks that grow and bloom at different times. The flowers are small, pink, red, white, collected in paniculate inflorescences up to 20 cm long. The fruit is a capsule. There are up to 20,000 seeds in 1 g.

In 1601, the famous botanist Charles Clusius described one of the plants brought from the eastern regions of North America, called Mountain Undergrowth (Sanicula montana). This was the first description of the current heuchera in literature. It is known that already in the first half of the 17th century this plant was cultivated in the gardens of France. One of the first botanical drawings of Heuchera, made in 1698, with the caption 'Cortusa americana floribus herbidis', is kept in the Natural History Museum in London. John Tradescant the Younger began to grow heuchera for the first time, and 1656 is considered the date of its introduction into culture.

Much later, other species of the genus Heuchera were discovered and described. In the first book devoted to the natural flora of North America - 'Flora Americae Septentrionalis' (1814), Frederic Pursch described 5 new species of heuchera found during the first transcontinental expedition of captains Lewis and Clark (1804-1806). At the same time, blood-red heuchera (Heuchera sanguinea) was discovered in Mexico.

The famous collector David Douglas in 1825-1827, traveling along the Columbia River in what is now the state of Washington, first collected herbarium material from Heuchera cylindrica and micrantha . The work of the famous American botanists Asa Gray and John Torrey (1838-1843) provides a detailed description of 15 species of heuchera.

Until the beginning of the 20th century, mainly species of heuchera and their natural forms were grown in gardens, but it cannot be said that these plants were widespread. The situation has changed a little after the appearance of hybrid heucheras in France. The famous breeders Victor and Emile Lemoine were the first to seriously engage in hybridization of Heuchera. In the catalog of their company in 1897, for the first time, a plant was mentioned that was obtained by crossing blood-red heuchera and small-flowered heuchera, called by the creators heuchera brizoides.

Subsequently, Emile Lemoine repeatedly crossed Heuchera shag-shaped with small-flowered, as a result of which in 1902-1908. Numerous hybrids have been bred. The historical role of these hybrid plants is extremely great, because they became the basis for all subsequent breeding work with heucheras.

For almost 70 years, starting in 1931, all the most significant work on developing new Heuchera varieties was carried out in England by Alan Bloom. In particular, he obtained 13 lines of complex hybrids from crossing heuchera americana, small-flowered, cylindrical and hairy. The seeds of their mixture called 'Bressingham Hybrids' are still sold by many foreign companies.

Years passed, breeders worked, but heucheras still remained a rare garden plant. But in the United States, a new generation of breeders appeared who were in love with this crop and correctly appreciated its gigantic, but little used genetic potential by that time. Thanks to their work, fantastically beautiful, original heuchera varieties appeared, which were loved by flower growers from all countries.

Heuchera

Planting seeds in open ground

You don’t have to waste time growing seedlings, but sow the seeds directly into open ground. But you need to take into account that the plant will not retain all its maternal characteristics. And instead of the desired lush shrub with colorful foliage, you can grow a completely different plant, devoid of decorativeness.

Sowing time

Heuchera can be sowed in March-April. If there is a threat of frost, it is better to cover the area with agrofibre. In some cases, planting in the fall is allowed, immediately after collecting the seeds. But this is only possible in those regions where autumn is warm and cold weather comes late. Before winter, shoots will appear and the plant will be able to overwinter under cover.

Choice of location and lighting

Heuchera prefers shaded areas.
It is recommended to plant it on the eastern or western side of the site, near spreading trees. Many varieties can grow in sunny areas. But in such cases, regular watering is important. Red-leaved heucheras need good lighting most of all. Under the influence of the sun they acquire a characteristic red color. If they are planted in the shade, the foliage may turn green. On a note! The plant has no special requirements for the soil on the site. Heuchera can grow anywhere, but not in acidic soil. Optimal pH 5-6. Rocky soil is also suitable. The more nutritious and loose it is, the more magnificent the bush will be. It is undesirable to plant the plant in lowlands where there may be stagnant water. This has a bad effect on the condition of the root system.

Landing rules

Prepare the soil on the site in advance - dig up, remove all weeds, apply fertilizer. Mix the seeds with sand and sow in the prepared furrows. When shoots with 3-4 true leaves appear, they are planted at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other.

Reproduction

Heuchera reproduces by seeds and vegetatively - by cuttings and dividing the bush.

Heucheras are easy to propagate by 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 is 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.

Outdoor care

Heuchera does not require special care. It is very important to provide it with proper lighting, good drainage, and timely watering.

Mulching the soil

The root system of the plant is located on the surface. To avoid drying out, it is recommended to mulch the soil around the bush with dry leaves, straw, and sawdust. Mulch will promote slow evaporation of moisture and maintain looseness of the soil.

Watering

Heuchera needs to be watered regularly in spring and summer. If the bush experiences a lack of moisture, the leaves will begin to dry out and lose their decorative properties. If there is no rain, then it is advisable to water the plant once every 2 days. You need to let the top layer of soil dry out a little. Watering is carried out in the morning or evening, when there is no scorching sun. But the plant cannot be flooded; it does not tolerate stagnation of water. You need to pour water at the root, avoid getting it on the leaves. Drops of water exposed to the sun can cause leaf burns.

Feeding and fertilizer

In the wild, heuchera grows in poor soils. Therefore, non-ornamental species can be grown without fertilizing. Varietal heucheras need fertilizer to produce lush bushes and colorful leaves. In the spring, a year after planting, it is recommended to apply complex fertilizing. The fertilizer concentration is made 2 times weaker than the instructions require.

Care during and after flowering

Heuchera usually blooms in early summer. Depending on the variety, flowers can decorate the plant throughout the summer until cold weather. Flowers in the form of bells are collected in paniculate inflorescences, located on high peduncles. It is recommended to remove faded buds immediately. Leave only the inflorescences from which you plan to collect seeds. The seeds are collected in boxes. 1 g contains up to 20 thousand seeds.

Features of Heuchera

Heuchera is a dense compact bush, which consists of leathery, long-petioled leaf plates with a serrated edge. The color and shape of the leaves are very diverse. They can be almost black, maroon, pink, yellow, deep red, amber, purple, green and even silver; their surface has a variety of veins, patterns, spots and specks. The texture of the leaf plates can be corrugated, smooth and curly. The bushes are decorated with flowers throughout the summer, and in some cases even until the first frost. Paniculate inflorescences consist of small bells of white, red, pink or cream color. The fruit is a capsule containing numerous seeds the size of a poppy seed (1 g contains approximately 20 thousand seeds).

This flower has been used in landscape design for a long time. Designers divide all varieties into 2 categories: decorative flowering (for example, blood-red or red heuchera) and decorative deciduous (they come from American heuchera).

Protection from pests and diseases

Heuchera is quite resistant to external factors. If there is excess moisture due to rainy weather or heavy watering, it can be affected by rust, powdery mildew, and root rot. Fungicides are used to combat rot and powdery mildew. All damaged parts of the plant are first removed. Spraying with Bordeaux mixture is effective against rust.

The root system and leaves may be threatened by:

nematodes;
weevils;
slugs

To prevent infection around the bush, it is recommended to sprinkle slaked lime or sawdust with creolin. To combat weevils, spray with mustard water. If the heuchera is severely damaged by pests, it is better to use insecticides (Aktellik, Karbofos).

Planting heuchera

In the spring, we, longing for the earth, want to quickly buy something and plant something. However, buying heuchera with an open root system, and even without leaves, is a rather bold experiment. If you are lucky and the plant is from a newly delivered batch, it takes root well and begins to grow. However, plants (of the same variety, from the same seller and from the same batch), purchased a week later and left without proper storage during this time, very quickly lose their viability. Even if it seems that the plant can be revived, it is better not to risk it.

Wait 3-4 weeks, and bushes in pots - plants with a closed root system - will appear on sale. Then you can choose a known healthy specimen.

Young plants must be planted in loose, non-acidic soil. On heavy soils, plants may “dry out”, they have a depressed appearance, do not take root well, and may even change color and leaf shape.

If within a few days after purchase you do not have the opportunity to care for the young heuchera, you need to water it generously and shade it, covering it with a box with slots.

Now on sale you can find very tiny “babies” that take root well, but they need to be planted separately in the garden so that the neighbors do not choke out the sprouts. Having grown an adult specimen, evaluate its size and decorativeness, and you can plant it in a permanent place. This is especially important when growing unfamiliar varieties.

Heuchera 'Obsidian'. © Kym Pokorny

Reproduction methods

In addition to sowing seeds, other methods of propagating crops are used.

Cuttings

Cut off the side shoots with a fragment of the rosette. Long cuttings can be cut into shorter ones. Treat the cut areas with Kornevin. Plant them in holes filled with loose peat. Cover the cuttings with film on top. Open it periodically for ventilation. The plant should take root within a month. If rooting occurs closer to autumn, then the plant is left in a greenhouse for the winter.

Dividing the bush

This method is used most often. It is the most effective, retaining all the characteristics of the mother plant. It is better to divide the bush during the 3-4th year of the heuchera’s life during spring or autumn replanting. Carefully dig up the bush and divide it into sections without using sharp tools. Each should have 2-3 sockets. Remove damaged and dry areas. Treat the cut areas with Kornevin or ash. Dig holes, fill them with compost, add drainage. Plant the cuttings and water them. Within 1.5-2 months they will take root.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

When the plant reaches the age of 3-4 years, it is time to divide the bush. It is recommended to do this in May or September.

How to divide a heuchera bush photo

Each division should contain 2-3 leaf rosettes and part of the rhizome.
It is necessary to trim too long roots, remove rotten areas and treat the cut areas with a fungicide.
Dig a planting hole measuring 30 by 30, the depth is slightly larger than the size of the root system.
Keep a distance between bushes of about 25 cm.
Water and mulch the area.

Autumn care and wintering

Heuchera does not require special care. In autumn, after flowering has ended, the flower stalks must be removed. Dry stems and leaves should not be cut. They are necessary to cover the root system during wintering. The plant may not tolerate severe frosts. Therefore, for the winter it is additionally covered with dry leaves and straw. The soil around is mulched with tree bark and ash. In the spring, when warm weather sets in, the cover is removed and the stems are carefully cut as close to the soil surface as possible.

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.

Heuchera in landscape design

The main advantage of heuchera is its decorative effect throughout the growing season. This allows it to be widely used in landscape design. A flower garden made from a composition of different varieties of heuchera looks impressive.

The contrasting leaves of heuchera also go well with other plants:

ferns;
bought;
irises;
barberries;
daylilies.

The culture complements coniferous plantings well and is suitable for decorating alpine slides, borders, decorating gazebos, slides, and fountains. In spring it can be placed next to tulips. After they bloom, the heuchera will fill the space of the flowerbed. The decorative value of a crop can be fully appreciated only in the 2nd year of life. A newly planted bush does not yet show all its advantages.

Heuchera is an exotic crop that is increasingly popular among gardeners due to its unpretentiousness and colorfulness. You can grow different types of plants from seeds, by cuttings or dividing the bush. Heuchera goes well with other ornamental crops and becomes an integral part of flower arrangements.

More useful information about caring for heuchera in open ground and about the features of growing an ornamental plant that is beautiful from spring to autumn can be found after watching the video:

Heuchera propagation by cuttings

How to cut heuchera cuttings photo

Propagation by cuttings is carried out in June-July.
The cutting should be part of a bush without a rhizome.
Partially remove the leaves at the bottom, treat the cutting with a growth stimulator: keep it in a solution of heteroauxin or root for a day.

Rooted heuchera cuttings ready for planting photo

Root in a sand-peat mixture, covering with a transparent cup or bag.
Ventilate daily, moderately moisten the soil (it is better to water through a tray).
Rooting of heuchera cuttings will take 3-4 weeks. Then replant in open ground.

Description and characteristics of heuchera

Heuchera belongs to the perennial herbs of the Saxifraga family. The plant comes from the North American continent and prefers to grow near the banks of mountain rivers. However, modern horticulture has adapted varieties for cultivation in areas in other habitats. The height of the bush does not exceed half a meter, while the rosette is quite spreading and grows quickly. Due to this property, transplantation of heuchera or its parts is used to propagate the plant.

The appearance and characteristics of the flower are remarkable:

dense leaves are located close to the root;
petioles evenly long;
the shade of green changes as it grows;
long flower stalks exceed the height of the plant;
small bell-shaped flowers are collected in dense panicles;
fruits - seed pods;
the seed is small, blunt-spiked, in a dark brown color.

Botanical description

Heuchera hairy

Heuchera is a herbaceous plant about half a meter high . There is no central stem as such; the leaves are mostly basal. The length of the petioles can reach 30-40 cm. The leaves consist of five fused lobes, their size is about 5 by 10 cm.

1 The root system of a plant has a rod structure. The central root is quite large and fleshy. Sometimes there may be several roots on one bush; as a rule, this happens when additional roots naturally budding from a larger one. The root length can reach up to 50 cm.

Bushes of various types of heuchera

2 The flowers of the plant are small, mostly inconspicuous. However, some species are quite bright. Their color can vary from white and green to bright red or pink. There are practically no single flowers; they are mainly collected in panicle-type inflorescences.

Heuchera bloody inflorescence

3 The fruits of the plant are capsules containing several thousand seeds. The seeds are extremely small, slightly smaller than a poppy seed. One gram contains up to 20 thousand seeds.

The modern classification of heuchera does not have a single standard. In fact, there are two classifications of the plant: according to one, the genus has 58 species, according to the other - more than 70. The varietal diversity of the plant is quite large.

Over several decades, about 400 varieties and hybrids of the plant were obtained, differing in leaf color and size.

Some Heuchera species are capable of interbreeding with related plants of the same Saxifraga family . An example of such a cross is a hybrid of heuchera and tiarella.

Its distinctive feature is a plant with colorful foliage and fairly large inflorescences.

A variety of colors of heuchera leaves in different varieties

Heuchera is very unpretentious and can grow even on rocky soils completely devoid of soil. There are several species found in the wild, native to the deserts of California and Arizona.

Obsidian, the darkest variety of heuchera

The plant propagates in all possible ways - from vegetative to seed.

Heuchera care

It is very easy to grow heuchera in your garden because it requires minimal care.

Top dressing

After planting in the first year of growth, the bush does not need to be fed. Then fertilizing is carried out every year during the growing season. If you grow decorative deciduous varieties, then use complex mineral fertilizers for deciduous plants for fertilizing, and when growing decorative flowering varieties, use universal fertilizers for flowering plants. Fertilizers are applied to the soil twice per season, namely, before flowering and after it, using half the dosage recommended by the manufacturer.

Watering

Flowers should be watered regularly once every two days immediately after the top layer of soil has dried. Heuchera is one of those plants that tolerate drought much better than stagnant fluid in the root system. But during a long hot and dry period, watering is carried out twice a day (early morning and late evening). Water the bushes very carefully, pour water at the root, avoiding drops on the surface of the foliage, as this can cause burns.

To avoid frequent weeding and regular loosening, in the spring, after watering, the soil surface is covered with a layer of mulch (peat).

Heuchera propagation

After the age of the bush reaches three or four years, the center may become exposed, since the rosette of the bush in most cases falls apart. If this happens, it means the flower should be rejuvenated; to do this, it is dug up, divided into several parts, and each section is planted in a new place. The division of the bush is carried out in May or in the first autumn weeks. It should be taken into account that each division should have two or three sockets. If the roots of the division are excessively long, then they are shortened, and if there is rot on them, then all the affected parts are cut out, and the cut areas are sprinkled with crushed charcoal.

The cuttings are planted in holes measuring 30x30 centimeters, slightly deeper than the parent plant grew. The distance between them should be at least 25 centimeters. When the cuttings are planted, they are watered and covered with a layer of mulch. Rooting lasts approximately 30 days.

The culture can also be propagated by cuttings . Cuttings are harvested in June–July. Cut the shoots from the parent bush, making the cut as close to the soil surface as possible, but do not touch the rhizome. Cut them into cuttings, the length of which should be from 40 to 60 mm, their lower sections are dipped in a means that stimulates root growth. Remove some of the foliage from them and plant them for rooting in a substrate consisting of sand and peat in a small greenhouse, which should be in a shaded place. Cuttings need regular ventilation, and they also need to be watered in a timely manner. After 20–30 days, the cuttings will take root.

Heuchera pests and diseases

The culture is highly resistant to both harmful insects and various diseases. However, it is still rarely affected by rust, spotting, powdery mildew or gray rot. As a rule, this occurs due to the fact that liquid regularly stagnates in the root system or due to an excessively large amount of fertilizer in the soil.

If a whitish coating appears on the foliage, it means the plant is affected by powdery mildew. To cure it, you will need to treat it with a fungicidal drug. If the flower is sick with rust or spotting, then it needs to be sprayed with a solution of Bordeaux mixture every two weeks.

Among the harmful insects, the plant can be damaged by slugs, caterpillars, snails, weevils or leaf nematodes. To destroy them, the bush is treated with a special insecticidal preparation.

Heuchera diseases and pests

The culture is quite stable.

Heuchera diseases are relatively rare. Stagnant water, excess organic matter and acidic soil can cause root rot. Having discovered signs of wilting, you need to trim the rosette to healthy tissue, leave a minimum of leaves and root the resulting cutting in the usual way.

Subtleties of growing a plant

Growing decorative heuchera has no special requirements, but there are a number of nuances that will help you get maximum aesthetic pleasure from the plant:

Peduncles of decorative deciduous varieties are removed immediately after their appearance, and in flowering varieties - before the fruits form.
Young fragile leaves must be protected from physical damage.
Periodically, the flower needs to be replanted into a deeper hole to prevent the bush from becoming loose.
The crop can be planted together with ornamental grasses, primroses, bergenia and daylilies.

Time and place for landing

The right time for planting heuchera is spring, starting from the second half of March. You can plant bushes in April if the ground is not warm enough. As for growing from seeds, you should be guided by information about planting dates from the manufacturer. The plant is not replanted in the fall, but cuttings can be prepared and left indoors for the winter.

Most heuchera varieties prefer partial shade, but there are also those that become more attractive in direct sunlight. It is preferable to plant plants on the eastern or western side of the site.

Soil for the plant

The morphological composition of the soil is not an essential criterion, but, like most herbs, heuchera prefers loose, fertile soil. The plant does not tolerate acidic soil well; acidity is allowed within 5-6 pH, which corresponds to neutral values.

Acidified soil can be corrected by adding wood ash, dolomite flour or chalk.

Heuchera grows best in conditions with good air permeability so that oxygen can easily pass through the soil. It needs a lot of moisture, which does not stagnate at the roots, so it is necessary to provide drainage. Expanded clay, clay chips and small pebbles are well suited for this.

Preparation of planting material

Heuchera can be grown from seeds or seedlings; the preparation of planting material depends on this:

The rhizomes of seedlings obtained by dividing the bush are washed, and the sections of the cuttings are sprinkled with ash and treated with a preparation for root growth.
Seedlings purchased in a store are inspected for damage or signs of disease; they should be planted immediately after purchase.
Before planting, the seeds are soaked for 2-3 hours in water, then allowed to dry and mixed with river sand before sowing. Usually, growing heuchera from self-collected seeds is not practiced at home.

Planting process

The technology for planting heuchera in open ground is simple and includes several stages:

Preparation of planting holes with a diameter of 0.3 m and a depth of the same size.
The distance between bushes should be about 30 cm.
The seedlings are lowered into the hole by transferring them from the container.
Fill the hole with soil and tamp lightly.
Each plant is watered abundantly at the root.
Mulch the soil around the heuchera with crushed peat, hay or sawdust.

Varieties and types of Heyherella

Heucherella varieties differ in the shape and color of leaves, peduncles and shoot height. Using their diversity, you can create a wonderful garden composition. At the same time, there is no need to be tied to the flowering period of the plant, since their leaves are much more beautiful than the flowers. The most popular Heicherella varieties include:

Bridget Bloom
Rosalie
Solar Power
Quick Silver
Kimono
Stoplight
Honey Rose
golden zebra
Tapestry

Bridget Bloom

Characterizing the Bridget Bloom variety, one can note the juicy green color of its leaves with brown veins and coral inflorescences on numerous peduncles. It got its name in honor of the daughter of the famous breeder Bloom. It blooms profusely from June to July.

Rosalie

The Rosalie variety has green-yellow leaves in the spring, which gradually darken. The veins of the leaves are dark red, which looks beautiful against the background of light colors. Its flower stalks delight the eye for a long time.

Solar Power

The owner of lemon and lime colored leaves with brown streaks is the Solar Power variety. Small white flowers look delicate against the background of carved foliage. The height of the variety reaches 30 cm.

Quick Silver

The Kwik Silver variety grows as a gray-silver bush with grape-shaped leaves. Blooms with white-silver arrows.

Kimono

Palm-shaped leaves with burgundy veins, distinctive from other representatives of Heicherella, are represented by the Kimono variety. Due to its ability to grow, it quickly forms a large bush with light pink peduncles.

Stoplight

The unusual coloring of the Stoplight variety attracts the eye of any person passing by. It has light green leaves with dark red streaks in the middle. It blooms from July to August with small white bells.

Honey Rose

The Honey Rose variety has in its spectrum a palette of foliage from yellow-orange to peach-red. Its leaves are deeply dissected. The flowering period occurs in the first half of summer.

golden zebra

Deeply cut golden leaves with a cherry center are characteristic of the Golden Zebra variety. In autumn, the color of the foliage changes and becomes orange-pink in the sun, and, on the contrary, turns green in the shade. This versatility of color gives an unsurpassed effect in the garden.

Tapestry

The green representative of the Heicherella family, Tapestri, is loved by all flower growers. Over the course of the season, its leaves change color from bluish to dark green. The leaves are decorated with brown veins, which combine perfectly with the pale pink flowers. Heucherella has quite massive roots, and some of its species grow up to 70 cm in height. These evergreen flowers are not capricious in care and like to grow in partial shade.

Heuchera

The story of heuchera is similar to the fairy tale about Cinderella, who suddenly became a beautiful princess.
Once upon a time there lived in the garden Heuchera sanguinea - a beautiful cushion of foliage with small delicate red bell-shaped flowers on tall (up to 40 cm) peduncles. Heuchera, as well as its close relatives - tiarella, heucherella, tolmia - belong to the saxifrage family. Homeland - North America. A very modest plant. Then we got seeds of the variety Heuchera villosa f. purpurea 'Palace Purple'. The seedlings did not repeat the properties of their parents, differing from them in the shape and color of burgundy and burgundy-chocolate leaves. Could anyone imagine that in a few years there would be heucheras for every taste? With amber, lemon yellow, silver, spotted, brown leaves and white, green, red, pink flowers. The leaves are so varied and beautiful that these plants do not even need to bloom. But the flowers of the new varieties became larger, showing off in paniculate inflorescences on numerous peduncles. The imagination of breeders saw the enormous potential of this plant and gave gardeners a new item for admiring collecting. The varieties discussed in the article are of hybrid origin.

Hybrids are divided into decorative deciduous and decorative flowering. Typically, flowering varieties have green or green-white foliage. Although there are exceptions, for example, the 'Swirling Fantasy' variety has burgundy leaves and dark pink flowers. Varieties with decorative foliage deserve special attention, as they are attractive all season long, creating a splash of color in the garden. It should be taken into account that the same variety may look different on different soil compositions. Many varieties tend to change foliage color throughout the season.

One of the first hybridizers to pay attention to heuchera were Victor Lemoine and his son Emil. They obtained a hybrid H. × brizoides (Lemoine, 1897) (H. sanguinea × H. americana var. hispida f. purpurea). Subsequent crosses led to the creation of several new varieties. Forest plants of North America and mountain inhabitants of the Cordillera moved into the gardens of American and European lovers of ornamental gardening and owners of apothecary gardens (heuchera contains astringents and antiseptic substances, being a source of tannin, and some of its species were used in folk medicine as a remedy for diarrhea).

The genus Heuchera has more than 40 species, and the fascination of many hybridizers with this plant is the reason for the emergence of more and more new cultivars. Its low height and rapid propagation make heuchera an ideal ground cover plant, valuable primarily for its striking variegated leaves. Heuchera is an evergreen perennial plant that forms a rosette of leaves. The leaf blade is rounded with a heart-shaped base, the veining is distinct.

The root system, like all representatives of this family, lies in the upper layers of the soil, fibrous, relatively weak. Consequently, the soil must be loose and moisture-absorbing, since the roots cannot extract water from the deep layers of the soil. At the same time, it does not tolerate prolonged stagnation of water. The acidity is slightly alkaline or neutral. Prefers to grow in sun or partial shade. Only some green-leaved varieties can grow in full shade, but they practically do not bloom, and the pattern on the leaf disappears.

Wild heucheras are divided into two groups of species: eastern and western. Oriental species grow in wet and dry forests, on sandy cliffs, and in mountainous areas. Species of the western group are inhabitants of mountainous and rocky areas. The origin of heuchera determines the conditions for their cultivation. In a shady landscape garden with rich soil, it is better to grow heucheras that come from forest areas. Mountain species are smaller and grow in rockeries and on retaining walls. Hybrids may change their preferences, but in any case, the key to success when growing a plant lies in knowing its origin.

Heucheras grow well in partial shade and shallow shade, and in the northern regions they can withstand the sun, but with excess light their leaves become lethargic. In more southern areas, heucheras grow in full shade. Frost resistance of plants is up to the fourth zone. When planting on heavy soils, you need to add sand, compost, a small amount of complex mineral fertilizer, and ash. Organic matter should be excluded, since the plant is rocky and adapted to relatively poor soils.

Pro tip: Before planting a plant from a foreign nursery, be sure to wash the root system of the substrate in which it traveled. When planting a division with an open root system, it is necessary to trim the roots by 1/3 and soak it in water with the addition of Epin or Zircon for 2–3 hours.

If there is the slightest likelihood of even temporary stagnation of water in the area chosen for planting, drainage cannot be avoided. By following these simple recommendations, you will create simply heavenly conditions for your beloved heucheras, and in return they will delight the eye with grace, beauty and unpretentiousness.

Deep drainage is a necessary condition for growing heuchera. Stagnant moisture causes rotting of the root system. Coarse sand can be used to drain the soil. Optimal soil acidity pH = 5–6. Therefore, pine sawdust can be added to the substrate. With age, the rhizomes of plants begin to protrude above the surface of the ground, so heucheras need to be mulched or divided, planting them at the required depth. Caring for heucheras is simple: in the spring before flowering and in the summer after it, complex mineral fertilizer is applied. During the summer growing season it responds very well to feeding with ash. For varieties with tall peduncles, it is better to tie them up, and after flowering, cut them off immediately. On sunny days, watering is recommended after sunset, due to the sensitivity of heuchera to burns.

Pro tip: After the harsh winter of 2005–2006, the plants emerged from the snow weakened, and fertilizers must be applied extremely carefully in the spring. It is better not to stimulate their growth, but to strengthen the immune system by treating them with Epin or Zircon.

Spring sun is stressful for evergreen plants, since the roots have not yet thawed, and the leaves are already evaporating moisture. To avoid this, you need to organize shading with any “breathable” covering material.

Annual autumn mulching or replanting the plant to the required depth is the biggest hassle in caring for heucheras. They are very unpretentious and unpretentious, being an ideal plant for both large public gardens and small amateur gardens. Heucheras are an excellent choice for shady and sunny places; they grow in mixed borders, being a good companion plant. Their compact form and lack of stolons make them an ideal companion (with the exception of Heuchera micrantha var. macropetala).

In this capacity, they can be planted even with plants that require alkaline soil. They can tolerate pH levels as low as 8.5, although they prefer slightly acidic to near-neutral soil (pH 5.8–6.3).

Heucheras go well with ornamental grasses, hostas, and daylilies. Suitable for large rockeries, rocky gardens, borders of uniform or alternating plants.

Growing heucheras in a container will give you the opportunity to decorate your winter garden with them and create a beautiful group for a mobile garden. During the long, cold winter months, the leaves of Heuchera 'Amber Waves' and 'Marmalade' will add color to the arrangement. Growing heuchera in a container requires well-drained soil and a slow-release fertilizer, such as a 16:5:9 formula containing trace elements and iron. Plants respond well to fertilizing with liquid fertilizers and compost tea.

Heuchera is a perfect plant for flower arranging and its leaves can be used at any time. Cut heuchera leaves stand in water for up to four weeks. Having long petioles, they look like a beautiful bouquet in a vase. For those who teach flower arranging, this is an invaluable material: they are always at hand, hold their shape for a long time and do not fade. The color range - from black to yellow, including green, orange, red - allows you to always choose the right shade. Small inflorescences lost in the landscape are invaluable for arranging bouquets.

Dark-leaved heucheras go well with yellow-leaved and yellow-edged hostas, dicentra (Dicentra spectabilis 'Gold Heart'). This contrast makes the yellow leaves of the hostas more vibrant and the dark colors of the heucheras deeper. The rounded leaves of heuchera look beautiful next to the long leaves of irises, sedges, and miscanthus; They are also good to combine with the complex leathery leaves of Mahonia. Yellow-leaved heucheras are irresistible next to purple barberries (Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Atropurpurea Nana') or primroses 'Wanda' with yellow or red flowers. There is nothing stopping you from making a flower garden from just heuchera - it won’t be boring, the choice of multi-colored leaves is very large.

Companions for Heuchera. Silver-leaved heucheras serve as a contrast to other plants and give the garden respectability and Mediterranean flavor. Typically, plants with such leaves are more resistant to drought than green ones. The silvery shades of the foliage of 'Pewter Veil', 'Mint Frost', 'Can Can' add special value to these varieties. They go well with cereals that have variegated leaves - Molinia caerulea 'Variegata', Koeleria glauca. The silver color of the heuchera can be enhanced by introducing wormwood Artemisia schmidtiana 'Nana', A. ludoviciana var. latiloba, A. stelleriana. Various varieties of silver-spotted grass or lungwort, brunner and silver-leafed grass (Stachys byzantina) will make suitable companions in a “silver” garden. Siberian irises with silver-blue flowers also claim to be heuchera's companions.

It is not difficult to identify companion plants for yellow heucheras. The lemon-yellow leaves of 'Lime Rickey' (Terra Nova, 2004) and 'Key Lime Pie' (Terra Nova, 2005) set off the hosts 'August Moon', 'Sun Power', 'Sum and Substance', yellow-flowered daffodils, spirea 'Gold Flame' and 'Golden Princess', lemon yellow-flowered fritillaria (Fritillaria imperialis 'Lutea'). Junipers, thujas, and barberries (Berberis thunbergii 'Aurea') also have yellow tones. There are many such plants, but too much yellow in the garden will look artificial, maybe leave green plants in such a flower garden?

For heucheras 'Chocolate Veil', 'Ebony and Ivory', 'Smoky Rose', you can offer Mikhailovsky's hazel grouse (Fritillaria michailovskyi), sedum (Sedum telephium 'Matrona'), Clematis recta 'Purpurea' as companions. Bronze shades are successfully emphasized by astilbe varieties 'Sprite' and 'Willie Buchanan'.

Attitude to the shadow. Heucheras are unpretentious plants. The required minimum conditions for their cultivation are universal for all varieties: deep drainage, dappled shade, moisture-intensive soil, mandatory hilling once a year or every other year. Planting along the periphery of the crown of an apple tree or around bushes provides shading and cover with leaves for the winter. Preparing for winter involves hilling up the bush to avoid exposing the roots in the spring. For young plantings, in case of a snowless winter, if possible, you should cover the bushes with oak leaves (it does not rot and mice do not like it) or the same covering material. In spring, the leaf will serve as a shelter from sunburn.

ATTENTION! Under no circumstances cut off leaves for the winter; this greatly weakens the plant, even to the point of its death. Old dried leaves are removed gradually as new ones grow.

Problems arise when, with the help of heuchera with yellow or silver leaves, you want to “light up” the dark corners of the garden. Heucheras grow in partial shade, dappled shade, or tolerate full shade. For planting in deep shade, varieties must be carefully selected. You can try to test 'White Marble' (Primerose Path, 1995), 'Green Spice' (Terra Nova, 1993), 'Mint Frost' (Terra Nova, 1997) under these conditions. The varieties 'Cappuccino' (Terra Nova, 1996), 'Chocolate Ruffles' (Terra Nova, 1994), 'Pewter Veil' (Terra Nova, 1992) require at least one hour of direct morning sun per day. Having received new heuchera varieties several years ago, I planted them in full shade, fearing that they would suffer from drying out soil. They had a hard time. The number of leaf rosettes did not increase, and varieties with silver leaves disappeared. Apparently, they needed the sun more than the others.

Collectors collect bit by bit information about the varieties of their favorite plants, trying to create optimal conditions for each of them. H. micrantha and H. maxima grow and bloom well in dappled shade. H. Monet is known to require very good drainage, as do all other H. sanguinea derivatives. Of the two varieties with amber shades of leaves, 'Marmalade' is less fastidious and more frost-resistant (Terra Nova, 2004) than 'Amber Waves' (Terra Nova, 2000). The latter needs morning sun for better coloring of the leaves, and afternoon rays should be avoided - the leaves may burn. In shade, 'Molly Bush' holds purple color better (Bush, 1995) than 'Palace Purple'.

Reproduction. New heuchera varieties are expensive, but many plants with interesting colors can be grown from seeds. Heucheras are easily propagated by seeds. The round and black seeds look like miniature poppy seeds and require water and light to germinate. They can be sown immediately after harvest, or they can be stored for some time (preferably no longer than six months). It is not necessary to stratify them. Seedlings appear two or three weeks after sowing.

The substrate for seeds should be well drained; you can add 30% perlite or other soil disintegrant to it. The seeds should be lightly pressed to the surface so that they are not washed away when watering, or sprinkled with a thin layer of vermiculite. By changing the color of vermiculite, one can judge that the substrate is drying out. The seed container can be placed in a plastic bag or box. It is important to prevent the seeds from drying out.

Unfortunately, heucheras retain their decorative rosette appearance for no more than 3–5 years, after which the bush disintegrates and shows its bare middle. This is a signal that it is time to rejuvenate the plant - dig it up and divide it into parts, 2-3 rosettes in each. This procedure is best done in the spring, when new leaves appear, but before flowering.

Reproduction is also possible by seeds, although with this method the characteristics of the variety are not completely transmitted, although sometimes you can get specimens that are very interesting in color.

The rapid increase in the volume of planting material of new varieties, as a rule, causes problems associated with diseases and pests. There are still few heuchera collections, which means that “growing pains” have not yet overtaken us. Large snails and slugs can damage both young and old heuchera leaves. Caterpillars settle in entire colonies on leaves and gnaw them. Heuchera leaves are affected by spotting and mildew - downy mildew caused by the fungus Plasmopara. Heuchera diseases are relatively rare. Stagnant water, excess organic matter and acidic soil can cause root rot. Having discovered signs of wilting, you need to trim the rosette to healthy tissue, leave a minimum of leaves and root the resulting cutting in the usual way.

A rich assortment of exquisite varieties is gradually displacing modest species plants from our gardens. If all Cinderellas suddenly turn into beautiful princesses, we can only be happy for them. But what will happen to a garden with only queens? Who will make up the elegant retinue of crowned heads? After all, there are no queens without a retinue...

Magazine "Garden & Kindergarten"