Heuchera/x Heucherella/Tiarella

Mark Begick

The family Saxifragaceae comprises chiefly north temperate plants and includes many alpine and arctic species of xerophytic habit. This makes them adaptable and able to survive under different conditions, which is the reason why saxifrages, in particular) are so often used for dry rockery plantings. The Saxifragaceae is a large family and includes many easily recognizable genera (e.g., Astilbe, Bergenia, Heuchera, Heucherella, Rogersia, Saxifraga, and Tiarella, just to name a few). Species and cultivars of Bergenia and Heuchera are tough and persistent, so make good border plants for cool climates. Heuchera – The Coral Bells The genus Heuchera is named after Johann Heinrich von Heucher, who was a German professor of medicine. Fifty to seventy species are native to North America but only H. sanguinea, coral bells, and hybrids have gained popularity in North American gardens. These plants are either evergreen or semi- evergreen. Most of the improved cultivars are hybrids between H. sanguinea, H. americana, and H. micrantha. Many of these hybridized plants are ornamentally chosen for their colorful foliage. A few do have ornamental flowers of white, pink, or red . Heucheras do best in rich, moist well-drained soils in partial shade. They are better adapted to cooler climates, and sometimes this can enhance leaf color, especially in fall. x Heucherella – The Foamy Bells Many examples of hybrids between species of a genus occur but there are a few between genera. x Heucherella (the x denotes an intergeneric cross but is not sounded) was produced in 1912 at Nancy in France between a Heuchera hybrid and Tiarella cordifolia. Plants are evergreen, mat or clump-forming, occasionally stoloniferous perennials. They bear heart-shaped or broadly ovate, lobed, boldly veined, sometimes hairy leaves that are shaded brown when young and turning reddish-brown in fall. Short, loose panicles of tubular, bell-shaped, pink or white flowers are borne. Flower is over an extended period of time from spring to autumn because the flowers are sterile and don’t produce seed. x Heucherella are excellent as a ground cover edging in a herbaceous mixed bed, border, shrub bed, or woodland garden. Plants are easily propagated by division. They are a blend of the characteristics of the parents and require similar growing conditions as Heuchera. They are more shade tolerant and grow best in a lighter, well-drained soil. Tiarella – The Foam Flowers Tiarellas are mostly North American natives that are among the finest spring flowering woodland ornamentals. The small clumps of green maple-leaf foliage, often highlighted with black leaf patterns, produce clusters of usually white flowers in spring (a butterfly food source) that resemble foam coming from a narrow stem, hence the common name. Tiarellas also usually takes on a reddish cast in the cool nights of fall and winter. Tiarellas are an ideal evergreen, white-flowering groundcover for the shaded garden and can be spectacular in mass plantings. They love moderately moist, humus rich soils. Tiarellas have many great attributes: evergreen foliage, winter color, fragrant spring flowers, and attractively marked and shaped leaves. They are excellent low maintenance plants and should be more widely planted. Heuchera/x Heucherella/Tiarella Comparison Chart Plant Leaf Flower Size Heuchera ‘Black Beauty’ Ruby red; Ruffled White 10”Tx16”W pp1328 Heuchera ‘Blackout’ ppaf Very glossy, near-jet black Cream 6-10”Tx14”W leaves with perfectly rounded lobes Heuchera ‘Brownies’ ppaf Chocolate green with rosy-red Creamy 16”Tx16”W undersides Heuchera ‘Caroline’ ppaf Softly patterned silver and Cream- 10-18”Tx15”W purple white

02/19/18 Page 1 of 2 Plant Leaf Flower Size Heuchera ‘Citronelle’ Citron yellow leaves and silver White 12-14”Tx14”W pp17934 undersides; When planted in heavier shade, the leaves will be more chartreuse. Heuchera ‘Crimson Curls’ Deep red; Ruffled Off white 18”Tx15”W pp13729 Heuchera ‘Georgia Peach’ Peach colored with a slight Creamy 14-20”Tx24”W pp19375 silver overlay White Heuchera ‘Lime Rickey’ Chartreuse leaves turn lime White 8”Tx8-12”W pp16210 green in summer Heuchera ‘Marmalade’ Umber to deep sienna Red-brown 9”Tx18”W pp15945 Heuchera ‘Melting Fire’ Bright red new foliage. Mature White 10-18”Tx8- foliage deep maroon with flowers on 12”W heavily ruffled edges. red stems Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’ Dark purple leaves variegated N/A 10”Tx16”W pp18551 with bright fushia pink spots and flecks which lighten to a creamy color Heuchera ‘Miracle’ ppaf Brick red with bright chartreuse Pink 8-14”Tx10”W to gold edges and silvered undersides in cool weather; Red pigments lighten and the leaves turn green in warmer weather Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ Shiny & rounded leaves are very White 10”Tx16”W pp14836 dark purple almost black Heuchera ‘Peach Flambe’ Bright peach to flaming red- White 7”Tx14”W pp17195 orange; Color subdues in fall and turns plum in winter Heuchera ‘Pinot Noir’ ppaf Deep black-purple leaves in Pure white 10-18”Tx14”W spring; Develop a silver overlay with an extensive network of black-purple veins Heuchera ‘Plum Pudding’ Shimmering, shiny plum-purple White 12”Tx22”W Heuchera ‘Plum Roayle’ Shiny purple leaves all summer Pink-white 12-20”Tx14”W ppaf Heuchera ‘Southern Changes from cinnamon peach Creamy 14-20”Tx24”W Comfort’ ppaf to burnished copper to amber white Heuchera ‘Tiramisu’ ppaf Chartreuse foliage has a heavy Creamy 8-10”Tx10”W smattering of brick red coloration that radiates out from the midrib of each leaf. During the summer, the leaves lighten to chartreuse and develop a light silver overlay Heuchera ‘Vesuvius’ Dark purple Cherry red, 7”Tx17”W pp13215 reblooms Heuchera micrantha ‘Palace Maroon-purple Creamy 12”Tx18”W Purple’ white X Heucherella ‘Alabama Gold with sharply contrasting White 12-20”tx12”W Sunrise’ pp19611 red veining Tiarella ‘Running Tapestry’ Green leaves with red veins White 12-15”Tx12- 18”W Tiarella ‘Sugar & Spice’ Shiny, lacquered leaves, which Pink with 8”Tx12”W pp16738 are lacy with a heavily marked white center in summer and winter interior

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