About
Heuchera sanguinea, coral bells, is a clump-forming, semi-evergreen perennial to around 30 cm with rounded, shallowly lobed, dark-green leaves with pale-green marbling. Slender, upright stems bear small, red, tubular flowers in open sprays in summer. One of the classic heucheras, grown for its bright, long-lasting flower display.
About the genus
Heuchera are evergreen or semi-evergreen, clump-forming perennials with rounded, palmately lobed leaves and wiry-stemmed racemes or panicles of small, tubular flowers in summer. Popular as much for their ornamental foliage as their flowers, they excel as ground cover in shaded borders.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeLoam, Sand
Soil pHNeutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectNorth-facing, South-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitClump forming
FoliageSemi evergreen
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, City and courtyard gardens
Native toNew Mexico, Arizona
Care notes
CultivationGrow in a fertile, moist but well-drained, neutral soil in sun or partial shade. The woody rootstock tends to lift out of the ground so mulch annually or lift and replant
PruningRemove faded flower spikes
PropagationPropagate by division in autumn
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to leaf and bud eelworm and vine weevil
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to heuchera rust and leafy gall