Heucheras' foliage pops in fall or winter landscapes

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Fancy foliage on little-known, underused plants called heucheras can add drama to your fall and winter garden.

Even as freezing temperatures descend on your yard, heucheras seem to perk up and look better. The plant — selected as the Perennial of the Year by the National Garden Bureau in 2012 — is cold-hardy in Zones 4 to 8.

“Heucheras are fantastic additions to perennial borders as well as mixed containers,” says Grace Chapman, director of horticulture at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, Va. “I like them because they have such striking foliage colors and light, airy flowers.”

Chapman uses pops of either burgundy or chartreuse heucheras to punctuate the landscape.

Heucheras also adapt well to different and even difficult environments, she adds.

“Most of them prefer part shade to full shade, but cultivars such as Autumn Bride (green foliage with white flowers), Miracle (chartreuse leaves that fade to dark red with a bright margin) and Frosted Violet (dark purple foliage) can take morning sun if planted in moist soils.”

Just about every gardening region in the country can find a variety of heuchera for its climate, according to Mt. Cuba Center, a plant research and testing site in Hockessin, Del.; and Terra Nova, a plant developer and breeder in Canby, Ore.

Heucheras generally like moist but well-drained soil, says George Coombs, assistant research horticulturist at the Mt. Cuba Center. Prolonged periods of waterlogged soil can quickly lead to root and crown rot.

A late-summer cleanup also helps, he says.

“Leaves from the spring flush tend to get worn, faded, and begin to deteriorate by the end of summer. Removing the worst leaves from around the base of the plant can really improve their appearance for the fall season’s new flush of growth.”

Many heucheras are labeled for sale as being tolerant of light conditions ranging from full shade to full sun, Coombs adds.

“We’ve tested each of our 87 cultivars in the sun,” he says of the Mt. Cuba Center’s ongoing study of heucheras. “Almost all survived this two-year period, but very few looked good enough to recommend planting them in full sun. Full shade to part shade is best.

“However, the bright chartreuse cultivars need to be in full shade for most of the day. Even a little bright sunlight can bleach the leaves.”

Coombs recommends heucheras for the home garden because their foliage changes color throughout the year. The changes generally coincide with the weather, but light intensity can also affect color patterns.

No matter what heuchera you choose, it must have good drainage, says Dan Heims, president and co-owner of Terra Nova Nurseries and co-author of Heucheras and Heucherellas: Coral Bells and Foamy Bells (Timber, $27.95).

“Winter wet will cause rot,” he says. “Wet kills.”

Heucheras also need to be reset every two to three years, he advises. It is beneficial to do one of two things: either dig a plant up, divide it, enrich the soil and replant; or simply mound improved soil to the tips of the “necks” of the plant. Early spring is the best time to do this.

Mulching is highly desirable. Many heucheras are used to having a leaf mulch in the fall — which adds an insulating layer and provides a nutritional benefit. Compost or bark mulch can be placed over plants as long as they aren’t completely covered.

For help selecting the best heuchera for your yard, visit Terra Nova’s website, www.terranova nurseries.com.