Heuchera is prized for its bold and exciting foliage which endures through winter when a splash of colour is most needed. This versatile hardy perennial forms a low mound of leaves with wavy or scalloped edges, in dazzling shades from zingy lime and coral to brooding purple-black, often with attractive contrasting veins. Its slender, summer flower stems are topped with airy clusters of dainty, nectar-rich blooms that entice bees and other pollinators to the garden, and giving rise to its common name of Coral Bells.

Heuchera is hardy and undemanding, preferring a moist, fertile and well-drained soil in a lightly shaded spot. Many varieties, particularly darker-leaved cultivars, will tolerate a sunnier position provided that the soil remains moist in summer. It’s best to avoid very dry or soggy conditions, although established plants can show good drought tolerance for short periods.

This compact, well-behaved plant brings low-maintenance texture and colour to the front of borders, illuminating shaded corners and filling gaps between taller summer perennials. When planted en masse, Heuchera melds effortlessly to create an undulating tapestry of semi-evergreen foliage. This versatile plant also makes a superb choice for jazzing-up winter containers.

How to plant:

— Heuchera are supplied as bare roots in spring for planting between February and May. They must be planted soon after delivery as they do not survive for long without light and moisture. If you can't plant on the day of delivery, remove the roots from the packaging and place in a bowl of water outdoors to soak, then plant within a week.

— Heuchera are hardy to around -20C and don’t require and frost protection. It is not recommended to plant bare root Heuchera directly into a border as they can struggle to settle into garden soil as dormant bare roots. Additionally, there are various other factors which can cause them to fail when planted directly into borders. They should be potted up and positioned outside to grow on through spring, then transplanted to borders later in the season when they are more established.

— If your Heuchera is intended for a border, pot up into a 15-20cm diameter temporary pot using multipurpose compost. Ensure the full root system is submerged below the soil surface. The buds at the top of the root system should be level with the soil surface after planting. If supplied later in spring, they may have some shoots/leaves which should be left exposed above the soil surface. Water thoroughly after planting.

— Heuchera can also grow well in patio containers. You can plant directly into a 25-30cm+ diameter patio container filled with good quality multipurpose compost as described above for potting up.

— If potting up, grow-on in a sheltered spot outdoors in their temporary pots during spring, this will give them an easy start and then they can be transferred into a border later in the season once the plant is more established with a stronger root system. The plant will be ready to transfer once roots begin to emerge from the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot and when the plant easily comes out of the pot with the soil held together by the roots.

— When your Heuchera plants are ready to transfer into a border, choose a position in dappled or partial shade with rich soil that doesn't frequently dry out. Darker-leaved varieties can cope with a sunnier spot where the soil remains damp in summer. Allow the compost in the pot to dry out slightly before removing from the pot, this will help prevent the soil from falling from the roots during transfer. Space the plants 20-30cm apart if planting a group. Add multipurpose compost to each planting hole to help the new roots grow.

— Keep a close eye on your new Heuchera for pest damage and keep space clear around the young plant, removing weeds and also excess growth from neighbouring plants to reduce competition. Ensure the soil remains slightly moist around new plants, particularly during the first growing season.

— This perennial is hardy and does not require winter protection in most areas. In very cold areas, it is recommended to apply mulch around young Heuchera to help protect them from severe weather during their first winter.

— When supplied in late spring, your Heuchera bare root is likely to have sprouted shoots or leaves already which may be pale in colour. Plant with the shoots/leaves exposed above the soil surface, they will soon green up and continue to grow.

Aftercare

— Deadhead Heuchera after flowering to encourage more to grow later in the season.

— Heuchera is semi-evergreen retaining most of its foliage all year round. When necessary, trim away any leaves which have yellowed and died back to keep the plant looking tidy. The following spring, new growth will start to emerge.

— Heuchera will produce leaves in the first year and often a small display of flowers. If they do not produce flowers in the first year, providing they have grown healthy foliage they will start flowering well in the second year.

— Heuchera is a clump-forming perennial which grows back larger and with more stems each year.

— You can divide established Heuchera clumps between autumn and early spring when needed.

— Read further general instructions about planting bare-root perennials