Heucherella – info, planting, care and tips

The heucherella enchants with its decorative leaves and delicate flower clusters. This is how to plant and care for.

Profile of heucherella:

Scientific name: Heucherella tiarelloides

Plant family: saxifrage family (Saxifragaceae)

Other names: –

Sowing time: –

Planting time: spring and autumn

Flowering period: May to July

Location: no direct sun to partially shady

Soil quality: sandy to loamy, nutrient rich, humus rich

These information are for temperate climate!

Use in: flower beds, ground cover, group planting, planters, borders, flower garden, roof garden, potted garden

Winter hardiness: hardy, USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5 (-26 °C / -15 °F)

Bee and insect friendly: No

Plant characteristics and classification of heucherella

Plant order, origin and occurrence of heucherella

The heucherella (Heucherella tiarelloides) is a plant that does not exist in nature. It is the result of the crossing of an alumroot (Heuchera) with a foamflower (Tiarella). Both plant genera are native to North America and both belong to the saxifrage family (Saxifragaceae). Horticulturists quickly recognized the high potential of these plants, as they hybridize very easily, i.e. they produce offspring with specimens that are foreign to the species. To combine the best of the two genera Heuchera and Tiarella, they crossed them and the result was x Heucherella tiarelloides. The x in front of the species name means that it is a genus hybrid. Also, the name heucherella is a combination of the two parent species Heuchera and Tiarella.

Characteristics of heucherella

Plant

Heucherella cultivars form compact, wintergreen leaf clusters, from which the upright, 20 to 60 centimeter (8 to 24 in) high flower stems grow during the flowering period. In spring, they sprout fresh again.

Leaves

Like the name, also the leaves of the heucherella reflect the combination of the two genera. The intense coloration of the leaves is an inheritance of the Heuchera parent, while the dark veined leaf patterns were adopted from the Tiarella parent. They are also deeply lobed, similar to these. Outside the flowering period, the leaves make up the great ornamental value of these perennials. They are especially colorful after new shoots in spring and autumn.

Blossoms

Usually the flowers of the heucherella appear between May and July in grape-like inflorescences, so-called racemes, at the end of thin, upright stems. The individual flowers are tiny bells in white or pink.

Fruit

Heucherella cultivars are sterile and do not produce fruits and seeds.

Heucherella – cultivation and care

Location

The heucherella thrives best in partially shady areas. Shady places are still more likely to be tolerated than too sunny places.

Soil

Any normal, nutrient-rich garden soil is suitable for the cultivation of Heucherella. Good water permeability is important, because the perennials do not tolerate waterlogging.

Planting

The best planting times for heucherella are spring and autumn. Heavy soils should definitely be made more permeable with sand or gravel. In the weeks following planting, please ensure that the soil has an even moisture content. As planting distance 25 centimeters (10 in) are recommended, when used in a large area, 15 plants per square meter (10 sq ft) are expected.

Care

Only in cases of persistent dryness, water must be added to prevent the soil from drying out. The rootstock tends to push itself out of the soil over time. Therefore, it should be heaped up with bark humus or compost in spring. Then it is also time to remove the dried leaves from the previous year to make room for new shoots. After flowering the stems should be cut off close to the ground.

Dividing

In order to maintain the vitality of the perennials, it is advisable to divide heucherellas every three to four years. To do this, dig out the rootstocks after flowering or in autumn and divide them with the spade leaf.

Propagation

The easiest way to propagate Heucherella tiarelloides is to divide the root ball.

Diseases and pests

Root rot can occur on soils that are wet from stagnation. Like the parents, the heucherella is quite resistant to snails, but is unfortunately attacked by the vine weevil more often. Above all its larvae damage the roots.

Wintering

Above all rough situations and dryness can cause problems for Heucherella-breedings. Therefore, a brushwood cover is suitable. Please make sure that the soil does not dry out completely. Potted specimens should be placed in a protected corner during the cold season.

Use in the garden

Heucherellas are leafy ground-covers under loosely planted shrubs. Good partners are hostas, ferns, astilbe, bleedingheart, Jacob’s Ladder, lungwort and Solomon’s-seal. Planters can also be varied with the compact perennials.

Varieties

  • ‘Alabama Sunrise’ – leaves gold with red veining, white flowers
  • ‘Bridget Bloom’ – 30–45 cm (12–18 in); grows best in full sun with some shade in hot summers
  • ‘Burnished Bronze’ – 10 cm (4 in) tall, 15 cm (6 in) wide, bronze foliage with light pink flowers
  • ‘Dayglow Pink’- 12–20 cm (5–8 in); maple-like green leaves with chocolate brown veining; bright pink flowers
  • ‘Fan Dancer’ – rare, 50 cm (20 in) tall, 75 cm (30 in) wide; deep green leaves with a black & silver overlay, white flowers
  • ‘Gold Zebra’ (was ‘Golden Zebra’) – leaves feathery, bright yellow, marked with dark red veins, white flowers
  • ‘Heart of Darkness’ – green leaves with dark maroon spot bordered by silver-gray, white flowers on stalks up to 60 cm (24 in) high
  • ‘Kimono’ – 10 cm (4 in) tall, 15 cm (6 in) wide, wrinkled green leaves with reddish purple markings; a larger set of leaves turn to coppery rose late in the season
  • ‘Pink Whisper’ – 25 cm (10 in) tall, 30 cm (12 in) wide; maple-shaped green leaves with deep red veining, pink flowers
  • ‘Quicksilver’ – 45 cm (18 in) tall, 50 cm (20 in) wide; best in full sun, but requires regular watering; rounded bronze leaves with silver overlay, white flowers
  • ‘Stoplight’ – spread 15–25 cm (6–10 in), yellow leaves with dark red blotches, white flowers
  • ‘Strike It Rich’ (syn. ‘Goldstrike’)- 20–35 cm (8–14 in) tall, 35 cm (14 in) wide; silver-green leaves with purple veining, light pink flowers
  • ‘Sunspot’ – 15 cm (6 in) tall, 30 cm (12 in) wide, heart-shaped leaves with yellow centers, pink flowers tinged pale lilac; grows best in partial shade; a mutation of × H. ‘Dayglow Pink’
  • ‘Sweet Tea’ – 50 cm (20 in) tall, 70 cm (28 in) wide -large, cinnamon-colored maple-shaped leaves, white flowers
  • ‘Tapestry’ – multicolored veins foliage with free-flowering stems of warm pink flowers
  • ‘Viking Ship’ – 15 cm (6 in) tall, 30 cm (12 in) wide; maple-shaped silver leaves, coral pink flowers

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