A Few Coral Bells To Grow

I have long insisted that in our zeal to introduce so many new plants, we confuse our customers with so many choices. Marketing programs have been trying to direct choices for specific uses (butterflies, native, weather tolerant), but with some groups of plants, particularly perennials, customers need someone to hold their hands and say, “We carry these varieties because we know they work well in the greenhouse and the landscape.” However, being able to say that with honesty requires a little reading or a little research. Who has the time?

With perennials, there are literally dozens of coneflowers, tickseeds, Shasta daisies and even hellebores being offered today. Just because someone says they are new does not mean they are good.

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A number of people across the country have asked me to try to sort out the many coral bells (heuchera) that seem to roll off the assembly line every year. Here are a few of my recommendations for this very popular crop, based on greenhouse and landscape performance. Other people, without doubt, will have their own.

All of these are available through brokers. Most are relatively new, and all grow similarly on the bench. 

By Leaf Color

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Chartreuse foliage: ‘Citronelle,’ ‘Lime Rickey.’

Dark purple foliage (almost black): ‘Blackberry Jam,’ ‘Mocha,’ ‘Obsidian.’

Purple, much more muted in color: ‘Brownies,’ ‘Crimson Curls,’ ‘Frosted Violet.’

Caramel foliage: ‘Caramel,’ ‘Dolce Crème Brule.’

Silvery foliage: ‘Regina,’ ‘Silver Scrolls.’

Green foliage, silver or dark venation: ‘Pink Lipstick,’ ‘Peppermint Spice,’ ‘Vanilla Spice.’ 

By Flower Color

‘Coral Bouquet,’ ‘Hollywood,’ ‘Rave On.’

The fine print: There are many other fine cultivars available. Try them all if you have the space; you need not believe me. However, somewhere along the line, you must select the varieties you will grow, use or sell on something more than a pretty picture. Trust your distributor or grower but get out and look at these things somewhere other than your greenhouse.

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