Heuchera

Heuchera also known as alum root and coral bells, have low growing colorful evergreen foliage with spikes of flowers to 2 feet tall.

The beauty of this shade gardening plant is it's foliage. Deep purple to red with a silvery overtone on the Americana, chocolate ruffles with ruffled leaves of chocolate on top and Burgundy wine color underneath. Then there's pewter moon, silver with purple edges and veins, and so many more.

The flowers are red, pink and white. Bloom time is late Spring to midsummer, and will last at last at least 6 weeks. To prolong the flowering time, cut back the flower spike to the base. Coral Bells are grown more for their flowers and Heuchera for foliage.

Propagate by division in Spring or Fall. Provide these shade perennials with a well draining soil on the acidic side. Almost any soil will do as long as it drains well. I personally would give it the good soil I always recommend, soil, compost and peat moss.

So this is one of those shade gardening perennials you'll want to collect with all its color diversity and foliage texture, not to mention the dainty flowers. It's an easy one to grow.

Coral Bells - Hollywood - $11.95 The Coral Bell Hollywood, 'Heuchera �Hollywood�, has white veiled foliage with lightly ruffled metallic leaves. In the springtime, dense coral flowers appear that last into the summer, being a strong rebloomer. However, Coral Bells are not known for their flowers, but their foliage. �Hollywood� has a plant spread of 18� and a height of 8�. It is best to grow �Hollywood� in medium wet, well-drained soils, in full shade. (It can tolerate some morning sun. ) �Hollywood� look especially good around the edge of borders, near variegated plants, woodland edges, rock gardens, perennial borders, or in mass to form an attractive ground cover. Great for a beginner gardener. PPAF