About
Heuchera villosa, the hairy alum root, is a clump-forming perennial to about 40 cm with a mound of lobed, softly hairy, mid-green leaves. In late summer, loose sprays of small, bell-shaped, white or pink flowers are produced on slender stems above the foliage. One of the more heat-tolerant heucheras, excellent for a partly shaded border.
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 shade, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHNeutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectEast-facing, North-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
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 usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants
Native toEastern N America
Care notes
CultivationGrow in a fertile, neutral soil in light or partial shade, and ensure good drainage, especially in heavy soils. This species may be more tolerant of heat and humidity than others, but less tolerant of dry spells, particularly in the growing season. The woody rootstock tends to lift out of the ground over time, so mulch annually to retain moisture. Divide and replant every 3-4 years to maintain vigour
PruningRemove faded flower spikes
PropagationPropagate by seed or 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