Coral Bells

Coral Bells (Heuchera spp.)

Alumroot

Part shade preferred; tolerates full shade with reduced flowering and full sun in cool seasons; medium moisture; well-drained, humusy soil; moderately acid to neutral pH.

12–18 inches tall in leaf, flower scapes to 24 inches; blooms late spring to early summer (May–June in Middle Tennessee) with airy panicles of tiny bell-shaped flowers in red, pink, or white; foliage is the primary ornamental feature — mounded, lobed leaves in purple, bronze, silver, caramel, or green depending on cultivar; spreads slowly by short rhizomes.

Divide every 3–4 years in early spring or fall; heaving of crowns from freeze-thaw cycles is common in Middle TN — replant or firm plants back into soil after each winter.

Native region: Heuchera americana and H. villosa are native to Tennessee, particularly in rocky woodlands and cliff faces; most garden cultivars are complex hybrids.

Modern Heuchera hybrids offer exceptional foliage color for Middle Tennessee shade gardens but come with a significant caveat: many purple- and bronze-leaved cultivars struggle in the combination of summer heat, humidity, and clay soils of Zone 6b/7a, developing crown rot (Botrytis and Phytophthora) or vine weevil damage by late summer. Cultivars derived from the heat-tolerant native H. villosa — including 'Caramel', 'Citronelle', and 'Southern Comfort' — perform substantially better in Middle TN conditions than European-bred types. Sharp drainage and air circulation around the crown are essential preventive measures.