This week...Heucheras

Colourful heucheras are ideal for ground cover, containers and even cut flowers

- GRAHAM RICE

Heucheras are grown mainly for their foliage and come in a huge variety of colours, contrasting well with each other and neighbouring plants

HEUCHERAS, sometimes known by their common names of coral bells or alumroot, are neat, hardy, perennial plants for sun or shade that are grown mainly for their foliage. Plants vary in height from 2-4in (5-10cm) to medium-sized plants up to 30in (75cm) in flower, with a mound of evergreen foliage growing from a tight, slowly spreading, rather woody crown.

The leaves can be 2-4in (5-10cm) across, are carried on stiff stems and overlap together to make an attractive mound of weed-smothering leaves. The foliage can be maple-like in shape or with rounded lobes.

The chief glory of heucheras is their extraordinary variety of leaf colours and leaf patterns. They range from almost black to silver, taking in crimson and purple shades, pink, marmalade-orange, yellow, lime and grey - two or three colours often creating an intricate pattern with dark leaf veins. Some change colour as the seasons pass.

In summer, slender, upright, self-supporting stems emerge carrying many tiny bell-like flowers in shades of white, cream, pink and red that are much appreciated by bees and butterflies and last well in water.

Good sized heucheras can be found locally

How to buy heucheras

Heucheras are usually sold ready to place in planters or in your garden, sometimes in full bloom. They are available pot-grown in retail outlets.

Smaller plants are available via mail order - sometimes packs of three of the same variety are offered at a discount.

You can raise heucheras from seed, but the best varieties are not available as seeds so unless you need large numbers it pays to buy plants.

Where to buy

Crocus crocus.co.uk O 01344 578 000