ALUM
ROOT
Family SAXIFRAGACEAE
Heuchera species
Perennial
Of this genus there are about fifty species in
all. They are natives of North America, and find
their homes form Mexico to the Arctic regions.
The leaves are heart-shaped, lobed and form a
rosette at the base of the plant from which spring
the slender flower-stems to a foot or more, bearing
elegant panicles of flowers about one-eighth of
an inch across.
Heuchera sanguinea, one to one and a half feet,
is the best known with red flowers and has various
garden forms that vary from blood-red to orange-scarlet.
The bigeneric hybrid Heucherella tiarelloides
comes from a cross between Heuchera brizoides
and Tiarella cordifolia, having pale pink flowers.
Heuchera americana is the true Alum Root with
dull purplish flowers.
Towards the front of the border and for cutting,
the Heucheras are among the most useful of plants.
Any well-drained garden soil, rich in humus and
in full sun, will grow them to perfection and
the fleshy roots may be planted in early autumn
or in March.
Propagation is by means of division of the roots
when growth begins, or from seed.
The flowering season is in early summer.
See Also : Heuchara
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