Thursday, June 11, 2009

HEUchera!

God Bless You!
(Oh. You didn't sneeze? My mistake!)
;-)


Last year, I lost (not misplaced) two heuchera.

You can see photos of them (Lime Rickey and Amber Waves) here in a post I created this past January. I'll be watching for these plants. I hope I can replace them and try again!

I may be mourning, but I'm not giving up!
:-)

This Spring I planted a few new varieties in front of the deck lattice. I will apologize right now for having all the "promotional" tags in place. I've not yet had time to create my own.

This is 'Sashay'


This is a view from above.


'Dolce Key Lime Pie'

'Tiramisu'

'Hercules'

'Purple Petticoats'

It's easy to see how it earned its name.

The next two photos show an unnamed variety.
I purchased 5 of them about 4 years ago. They were Very Unhappy with their new home.
This is the only one that survived... and it really seems to like this location.

Do you know what it is?



This is 'Ruby Bells,' too. This particular plant is in a corner of the Sunny Corner Bed in the front yard. I LOVE these bright red flowers... which is why I purchased four of them to place in the line-up you saw earlier in the second photo of this post.

There are a few other Heucheras around here, but perhaps I've shared them before? 'Palace Purple resides in several locations. Once the oak trees tain their leaves in mid-May, 'Green Spice' finds itself in one of the shadiest locations I have - and still does well. I have another 'Amber Waves' in the "South Woodland Walk."

Heuchera are hard to resist, aren't they?

22 comments:

Michael Pahre said...

The mystery Heuchera looks a lot like my Heuchera micrantha 'Palace Purple' in half Sun/half shade.

Curmudgeon said...

We lost 'Obsidian' AND 'Snow Angel' this winter. I was so bummed as we only had one of each. But this Spring 'Prince of Orange' came to live with us. I love HEU-cheras. Bless you! Your no-name one is gorgeous!

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Michael, Thanks for stopping. I'm really thinking it's not 'Palace Purple.' Only because I have four of them in various locations with shade and/or part sun. Thanks for trying, though! And if I'm wrong, accept my apologies ahead of time. :-)

Curmudgeon, That's so sad, isn't it? I'll have to look those up. 'Prince of Orange' sounds intriguing!

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

I love heuchera, but lost my lime rickey, too. Sometimes I don't think some of the new cultivars are as hardy as they may be portrayed!

Shady Gardener said...

Monica, I've been wondering that very same thing. I guess that's why I'd like to try it again... (Once more). ;-)

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

I almost bought 'Lime Rickey' the other day but thought I'd heard that it didn't come back for some people. I think I might have to get 'Tiramisu' not only for it's looks, but because it's my favorite dessert too! Do you get hummingbirds at your 'Ruby Bells'? I have one similar to it and they love it.

Ramble on Rose said...

I have a growing swathe of heucheras in one of my shaded borders. Once you get started, they're a hard habit to break! A number of mine are the native alum roots. I love your 'Hercules'!

Phoenix C. said...

I don't tend to lose plants - the only ones really are Heuchera! I exchanged comments with Catherine about this from Gardener in Progress when I found my Palace Purple had come detached from the soil. I've now pushed it back into the soil and it seems to be coming back to life. If it had been windy, I'm sure it would just have disappeared!

Shady Gardener said...

Catherine, I've read that same comment somewhere... but wasn't he beautiful? ;-) Yep, the hummers love Ruby Bells - and don't WE love the hummers?!

Rose, Have you posted photos of your heuchera?

Phoenix - I understand about having them seem to pop out of the soil. I guess soil amendment every Spring might help??

Sylvana said...

I almost bought Lime Rickey last week but opted for a couple variegated columbine instead. Sounds like that might have been a good move.

I have Silver Scrolls, Pewter Moon, Plum Pudding, Palace Purple (which I grew easily from a seed packet) and a couple other huecheras I can't remember the names to. Pewter Moon is my favorite.

lynn'sgarden said...

Who knew there are so many different varieties of Heucheras! I was happy to see my 'Peach Alba' return this spring and just bought one called 'Crimson Curls'..very similiar looking to your 'Purple Petticoats'. Lovely photos!
Lynn

Rosemary said...

Heucheras are wonderful plants, I just moved 3 Marmalade to the back the front garden too hot they were fading away , hope I can save them in place I have 3 Pewter Heuchera . The garden center told me Heuchera are short lived perennials only 3 to 4 years.I did not know that.

Gail said...

Hi Shady...Heucheras are such heavers! They love to throw themselves out of the soil...I just mound compost around them when they misbehave. After a lot of disappearing and shrinking plants I discovered that plants with villosa parentage seem to thrive here in my garden. But they are lovely and I can see why you love them so much!

The best performer is a H villosa 'Autumn Bride'~~big maple shaped leaves and Brownie~~again the bif leaves with a brown/burgundy color.

Gail

Shady Gardener said...

Sylvana, I'm constantly amazed at the number of Heuchera varieties! You have some intriguing sounding ones! :-)

Lynn, There is definitely a place for heuchera of some type or another, isn't there? They are "happy plants." ;-)

Rosemary, I think some types are longer-lived than others... I haven't sorted it out, as yet. My 'Palace Purple' plants have lasted 7 years, now. I have an idea 'Ruby Bells' may be long lived. My bitty 'Amber Waves' in the shade has been there for four years, but I wonder about it. I wonder if many of the newer varieties are not as "sturdy?"

Gail, Thanks for the tip!! I'm going to "head for the books" on villosa, just to see what I can learn. By observation, I've noticed some varieties have seemed much more sturdy and long-lived, but hadn't pursued the subject.

I'm also going to look up your recommended 'Autumn Bride.' :-)

Kathleen said...

Your new additions are really nice Shady Gardener. I don't have very many Heuchera's at all. The old stand by 'Purple Palace' and then a new one I bought last year (I can't remember the name now) that has gorgeous bronzy foliage. All are planted in full shade and none get those tall spikes of flowers like yours. Do they need a little sun to do that?? I planted them to attract hummingbirds (because like you said, we all love them!) but when they don't bloom, it doesn't work! I remember seeing 'Lime Rickey' ~ he was beautiful. I hope you can find him again. Meanwhile enjoy your new beauties.

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

I thought I lost 2 Lime Rickey's over the winter, but they're back and seem fine, although they need to be moved. I wish I could ID your mystery plant, but it definitely isn't 'Palace Purple,' those flowers are too flashy. I like your new Heucheras, especially Hercules. It seems you can't ever have too many Heucheras.

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Kathleen, Please don't think I'm doing anything special to get tall flower spikes. I'm sure it's the variety. My little 'Ruby Bells' is very striking, but has short stems as compared to the unnamed variety. I may have an ID, as I found a site last night. I'll see if this is it. :-) It's always nice when you visit. I know you're busy these days, too.

MMD, Isn't that funny about your Lime Rickey plants? I'm so happy for you that they returned! I don't think they enjoy a lot of sun. Palace Purple also has jaggedy leaves. I'm going to see if I can find the right ID. If you stop back later, you can see if you agree! :-)

Northern Shade said...

This was a fun look at Heuchera. It's like looking at a catalogue and picking out the ones you want to order. (Do you have cheap shipping?) :)

I particularly like your unknown one, with the almost metallic sheen to it. It's a good thing one of them survived by deciding not to be fussy.

I have 'Mint Green', which seems very hardy so far, with all 6 plants surviving the winter, and many spring frosts. It's an apple green and slightly silver one, but it has gone through many colour variations this spring. I think it was in response to the frost, like they change in the fall.

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Northern Shade, I've not seen 'Mint Green,' either. There are just so many varieties, aren't there?
Your comments about it are interesting... I'll have to find it online. Isn't that the great part about garden blogs... finding something new to add to your "list?" ;-) Always glad for your visit.

Corner Gardener Sue said...

I love heucheras, too! I have trouble remembering their names, though. I didn't get the comments read here to see if you got yours identified.

Your bed is coming along nicely!

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Sue, No. It didn't get identified. And when I went on-line to see what I could discover, I actually got confused. It was too difficult to discern between a couple of the varieties, so for now... I'll just be satisfied that it's there. :-)

Michelle said...

Hi,

I discovered heucheras last spring and, like everyone else, can't get enough of them. I lost one this winter, melting fire and peach flambe is on its last legs, never really recovered from winter, either. I think your unkown variety might be Pinot Gris.