Beverly Hoffman

I remember when I was a little girl and got to wear my first petticoat under a skirt. It had a much different function than a slip, which we had to wear for modesty's sake. But, my goodness, a petticoat was an entirely different piece of undergarment. It was so pretty and full of ruffles that I thought would be much more fun to wear than my skirt. There was a bounce and a flounce to it and when I put it on I felt transformed to something quite grand, someone like a beautiful bride or a flamenco dancer or a prom queen.

When I am in the garden, I smile at the ruffles on some of the foliage, like Lady's Mantle, and I'm taken back to my own history of ruffles and the softness and sophistication I felt wearing them. Remember, too, photographs of our grandmothers when each garment they wore was tailored and severe except for a ruffled lapel on their blouse. A plant that seems to have that old-fashioned look is the Heuchera (pronounced much differently than it looks: HEW-ker-ah), commonly called coral bells or alum root.

In my favorite gardening magazine, Fine Gardening, it is amazing to see how often Heucheras are mentioned in the index. They are great plants for the front of the border; they add texture and grace to containers; they grow well in rock gardens; the spiky flower stems look lovely in floral arrangements; the tiny tubular flowers attract hummingbirds. They are quite versatile and the foliage is outstanding, both in the variety of colors and the shape and ruffle of their leaves.



Heucheras to the forefront

In the past 20 years, the number of cultivars has increased a great deal and now Heucheras have become more prominent in the garden. They are great to use at the front of borders and in containers because they are relatively short - 12 to 18 inches. It seems that tall perennials are more popular now and so perhaps the Heucheras don't get quite the respect they deserve.

Generally speaking, the foliage falls into one of two categories: a bronze-purple tint, sometimes with a hint of metallic, that does not fade but rather lasts the entire year. Perhaps "Palace Purple" is the most well-known Heuchera in this category. "Amethyst Mist' is a deep, clear claret. A stand-out is "Chocolate Ruffles" with a deep bronze foliage with purple overtones and white flowers. "Marmalade" has umber leaves with hot pink undersides and the "Crème Brule" does look as though it has a coating of burnt sugar on it.

The second is a green coloration, most often with white or silver patches between the veins. "Lime Rickey" has chartreuse leaves, a color that I think pops in our cloudy Northwest days. "Wendy" has large light green leaves with soft pink flowers and can thrive with little water. For a variegated look, consider "Snow Angel" or "Monet."

They are well-behaved plants that grow in tufts with long spikes of dainty flowers that can be coral, bright red, white and pink. After they bloom and begin to fade, remove the flower stems. This time of year, early autumn, is a good time to divide Heucheras. They do well in shade but can handle our summer sunshine, too. They like a more neutral to acid soil that is well-drained but stays moist.



A dynamic plant

Native Americans recognized the Heucheras' medicinal uses - a tonic to aid digestion or extractions from the root to stop minor bleeding or to reduce inflammation. The leaves are slightly astringent and can liven up a salad.

We see hostas used a lot in our area and, sometimes, they are riddled with raggedy leaves from slugs. If you want to substitute something for hostas, consider the Heucheras. And if you have a spot where you like to sit and think, plant one with red flowers, such as "Fireglow" and you'll be guaranteed that hummingbirds will visit again and again.

Heucheras have few pests and diseases. During summer, however, if there is too much moisture and shade, they can develop fungus problems. Move them to a sunnier site and they'll recover quickly.

In the Northwest, we have a number of evergreen conifers with needles that offer a structural stability. When that look needs a softening touch, consider planting Heucheras. At this time of the year you might even find them on sale. Plant them in the garden or in a container and they'll stay semi-evergreen all year and while other perennials have died off, they'll offer a winter's presence. They're pretty special plants.