Heuchera americana 'Plum Pudding'

CORAL BELLS, ALUMROOT
Family: Saxifragaceae
Pronounced: HOY-ka-ra a-mer-CAH-na

 

Quick Jumps

Growing Guide
Rainy Side Notes

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GROWING GUIDE

Origin:
Garden.
Plant Group:
Perennial.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones:1-9, 14-24.
USDA zones: 4-8.
Heat zones: 8-1.
Mature size:
Height: 22 inches (55 cm).
Width: 12 inches (30 cm).
Flowering period:
Late spring to early summer.
Flowering attributes:
Panicles of white, tubular-shaped flowers on purple stems.
Leaf attributes:
Ovate to heart shaped, lobed, plum leaves with darker plum veining.
Growth habit:
Clump forming.
Light:
Part shade to full sun.
Soil:
Light, fertile, moist but well-drained soil.
Feeding:
Side dress with compost or manure in fall. Fertilize in spring with a complete organic fertilizer.
Propagation Methods:
Divide in early spring by digging up plant and dividing the clump into pieces.
In autumn pull off rooted offsets from the sides of older crowns. Pot the offsets up and overwinter in cold frame or greenhouse.
Remove offsets in spring and root as a cutting.

 

Rainy Side Notes

So many heucheras, so little time! I may not be able to grow them all, but it will not be from a lack of trying! Out of all the Coral bells I grow, this little pudding is one of the best. In 1996, Terra Nova Nurseries introduced Heuchera 'Plum Pudding’, which they consider one of their finest heucheras. The plum-colored, evergreen foliage is outstanding; even in full shade it holds its color well. This little perennial is worth growing just for its foliage alone. The white flowers are striking on the dark plum stems, although I remove the stems and use for cut flowers, as I consider the flowers detract from the plant. The plant is more compact than most heucheras.

In 1996, this hybrid was a Gold Medal winner in the VKC Nieuw, a large Dutch tradeshow, in Belgium.

Heucheras are good bee and hummingbird plants, plus deer resistant. As with all deer resistant plants, resistance may depend on local herds. If you want fantastic foliage without slug damage, like what occurs on hostas, try heucheras.

Photographed in author's garden.

More reading:
A Passion for Heucheras (Article Archives).
More Heucheras in the Gallery.