Heuchera
– Satin Leaf, Coral Plant
Hardy Perennial.
One to Two feet.
Flowers light crimson (also white forms), in July
and August.
A comparatively new plant in English gardens,
and where it does tolerably well, a very fine
one.
From a ground-tuft of leaves, not unlike those
of Ground Ivy, rise wiry stems about eighteen
inches high, bearing spikes or panicles of small
pendant flowers of a distinct pinkish crimson,
in form suggesting both the Tiarella and the Spiræa.
It is not one of the “grow anywhere”
order, showing dislike of heavy and damp soils.
Some of the more recent hybrids are more manageable
than the varieties introduced some years ago.
The best sorts are Heuchera brizoides, with dark
evergreen foliage and red flowers, and Heuchera
sanguinea, coral red; grandiflora and splendens
are vigorous forms of the latter; Heuchera sanguinea
alba (a neat confusion of adjectives) is pure
white.
The soil should be deep and good; ordinary garden-mould
may be mended in the usual way by digging in leaf-mould,
old rotten turf (free from wireworm) and old manure.
The site should be thoroughly sunny and open,
but not a droughty one.
The plants may be put out between October and
March; the latter is best in all cases except
where the soil and climate are unusually favourable.
The after-culture consists in the due weeding
and surface stirring, and removing the stalks
after flowering. The clumps should not be allowed
to stand more than a season or two in one place.
Heuchera sanguinea may be raised from seed quite
easily.
Sow in boxes in June and nurse with a little care
as to water and shade, much in the way of seedling
Pansies or Campanulas.
Prick out when large enough to bed in the open
and plant out in permanent quarters about March.
See Also : Alum Root
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