Heuchera is hairy. Growing heuchera: planting, care and propagation. Heuchera Purple Castle

The heuchera or heuchera plant (lat. Heuchera) belongs to the Saxifraga family. An evergreen herbaceous plant valued for its decorative round leaves. The flower has the ability to change color under the influence of natural conditions. Using an exotic plant, you can hide empty areas or decorate infertile areas. Perennial crop native to North America. There are more than 70 subspecies of heuchera. Widely used in medicine and landscape design.

Heuchera can become the main decoration of the garden.

Location

Heuchera must be planted in accordance with varietal requirements. For crops with bright colors and variegated foliage, a brightly lit area is suitable. Representatives of the genus with dark green foliage require a semi-shaded area.

It is preferable to plant the plant in the western or eastern part of the yard. Direct Sun rays allowed only in the early morning.

Heuchera prefers brightly lit areas.

For growing in indoors you should choose eastern window sills.

Temperature

IN warm time year, the ideal temperature for heuchera should be in the range from + 20 to +25 degrees. The flower can withstand air temperatures down to -40 degrees.

How to water heuchera

Heuchera is a moisture-loving plant. In hot summers you will need to regularly moisten the soil several times a day. It should be remembered that waterlogged soil causes rotting of the root system.

Heuchera should be watered as needed. Excessive moisture harms the root system.

Uniform watering and moisture retention can be achieved using a thin layer of mulch. It is enough to lay a five-centimeter layer of tree bark or leaf humus at the base of the heuchera.

Transplant procedure

Within five years, the plant can actively develop in one place. Then (regardless of the amount of fertilizing and the frequency of changing the top layer of soil) you will need to dig up the plant. During this time, the flower loses its decorative effect - the shoots stretch out, the bush loses its frost resistance. In winter, the defenseless plant will die. You can delay replanting using mulch. But this does not guarantee the preservation of culture.

Heuchera must be rejuvenated at least once every two years. The procedure can be performed after the threat of morning frost has subsided.

When the first leaves appear on the plant, you should dig up the bushes. Then it is necessary to trim off the damaged areas and divide the overgrown specimens into several parts.

Need for pruning

The plant should be inspected in the spring.

In early spring, it is necessary to trim dry and damaged parts of the heuchera.

Dried stems and leaves must be carefully removed. Damaged areas must be cut off using sterile scissors at the very base of the crop.

After the procedure, you should throw away last year's layer of mulch. You can add cut leaves and stems of heuchera to the new protective layer. Only if there are no signs of pest damage or infection.

Culture on site

Thoroughly strengthened seedlings can be planted in open soil. Young plants will begin active development only in the next growing season.

It is advisable to choose a brightly lit area for new heucheras. The plant can grow in any soil. It is preferable to provide well-drained and loose soil. The appearance of waterlogging will destroy the flower.

In open ground, you don’t have to feed the plant. It is sufficient to use mineral compounds as growth stimulants. The dosage provided in the instructions must be divided into two feedings.

The active development of heuchera (heuchera) causes rapid growth of bushes. To preserve the flower, you will need to periodically add moist soil at the base of the stem.

In the fall, before cold weather sets in, you will need to cover the plant with protective stretch material. You can use oak or conifer bark. Removing leaves before the dormant period can harm the flower.

Heuchera planted in the garden does not require additional feeding.

The nuances of breeding heuhera on the site can be learned from the video:

Features of growing in a container

Priming

For breeding in room conditions you will need to choose the most fertile soil. Can be purchased ready-made composition for indoor crops or prepare the mixture yourself at home.

The key to successful cultivation is neutral soil acidity. A pH value above or below the 5 to 6 range will often cause retarded development. Using crushed charcoal or chalk, you can raise the pH level.

Soil drainage must be provided.

When choosing a container for heuhera, you need to pay attention to a sufficient number of drainage holes.

Stagnation of water contributes to damage to the root system. Clay fragments, expanded clay, pebbles or foam can be used as drainage.

Top dressing

Heuchera planted in a container needs periodic feeding. It is not recommended to use products with high content nitrogen. Mineral components must be added in the spring before flowering.

In summer, after the inflorescences have withered, you can use fertilizers to indoor plants. If the plant has lost its decorative appearance or has stopped growing, it will need to continue feeding no more than twice a month.

The potted crop can be fertilized as needed once every two weeks.

Capacity

Heuchera has shallow roots. Therefore, you should choose a shallow, wide container for planting. To retain moisture, it is necessary to mulch the soil in the container. It is not recommended to cover the base of the plant or the stems with a protective layer. Poor air circulation will harm the flower.

Typical pests and diseases

At proper care the crop is not attacked by pests or affected by diseases.

High soil moisture levels are the main source of root rot. You can try to save the plant. To do this, it is necessary to cut off healthy sections of the stems for rooting. Then replace the top layer of waterlogged soil and remove the affected areas of the crop.

Powdery mildew, caused by microscopic fungi, can harm heuchera. At the stage of the appearance of white plaque, the crop should be thoroughly treated with a fungicide or sulfur.

The appearance of swollen areas on the shoots or at the base indicates infection of the bush by growth. The plant should be dug up and destroyed immediately. The dangerous virus is carried by cicadas.

Wilting stems indicate the appearance of weevils. Heuchera should be cleaned mechanically- collect all pests manually. After getting rid of insects, you can treat the shoots with a systemic insecticide.

Heuchera leaves must be removed at an early stage of infection.

As a preventive measure, it is necessary to avoid planting crops next to plants prone to nematode damage.

Heuchera flowering

Indoor heuchera usually blooms at the end of March. It is advisable to keep the flowerpot on a sunny windowsill. Paniculate inflorescences come in different colors - milky, pink, scarlet and pastel. Depending on the variety, the flowering period can last until the end of the summer months.

Under favorable conditions, the amazing flowering of heuchera can last for several months.

After flowering you can collect planting material from a formed fruit - a seed capsule.

Flower growers prone to allergic reactions should pay attention to heuchera. The plant belongs to the category of safe crops that can be grown without fear on the plot, terrace and in the bedroom.

Reproduction technology

There are several ways to propagate a bush.

Heuchera from seeds

The most common and accessible method of reproduction.

High-quality planting material can be obtained by self-harvesting.

Growing from seeds will provide high-quality seedlings. However, there is no guarantee of maintaining varietal advantages. Hybrid heuchers are especially susceptible to change.

For cultivation, you can buy processed planting material at a garden office. You can collect seeds from the opened seed pod. It should be noted that germination lasts no more than six months. Therefore, preparing seeds yourself guarantees the quality of the material. To store seeds, you need to prepare a dry, sealed container.

Sowing is preferably carried out in mid-March. For planting, you should prepare a loose, fertile substrate. You will first need to heat treat the soil for 30 minutes.

Disinfected soil can be poured into seedling containers and watered evenly. For good air circulation, it is necessary to loosen the soil with a small shovel. It is advisable to use a thin layer (no more than 4 mm) of fine-grained sand as a protective top layer.

The seeds should be scattered evenly over the soil and gently pressed into the ground. Containers must be moved to a semi-shaded area. It is necessary to regularly maintain soil moisture. The ambient temperature should be in the range from + 22 degrees to + 24 degrees.

Favorable conditions will help the first shoots appear within three weeks. Stronger seedlings can be planted in a separate container.

To replant into open soil, it is necessary to leave the plant indoors for a few more weeks until a strong root system is formed.

The first shoots of heuchera will appear no earlier than in 3 weeks.

Dividing the bush

Heuchera varieties Leuchtkafer, White Cloud and Sioux Falls need to be replanted periodically. Growing in one place causes accelerated elongation of shoots and falling leaves. The heuchera leaves bare stems. The plant completely loses its decorative effect.

Heuchera bush rejuvenation procedure.

To restore the culture, you will need to periodically trim the bush as necessary and plant it in a prepared hole in another area.

The rejuvenation procedure includes:

1. After the inflorescences wither, it is necessary to remove the leafless section of the stem (peduncle) and bare areas of the shoots. To save the plant, you can replant it before bud production begins.
2. The affected areas of the cuts must be disinfected. Ideal crushed charcoal. To stimulate root formation, phytohormones should be used.
3. You need to remove excess leaves. Cuttings should be planted in prepared mini-greenhouses. It is necessary to carefully place the planting material in the center of the container. Clean river sand is suitable as a substrate.
4. A small recess should be left near the base of the shoot for applying fertilizer.
5. After rooting, you can move the seedlings to open soil. It is necessary to take into account the timing of planting. If propagation was carried out in the fall, the heuhera can only be moved outside in the spring.
6. After planting on the site for several weeks, you will need to thoroughly moisten the soil and protect the crop from direct sunlight.
7. After successful acclimatization, you can remove the shelter.
8. Untimely planting can destroy the flower. If bare shoots remain on the heuchera in winter, the plant will not withstand severe frost.

Heuhera cuttings

For propagation, you must choose a healthy flowering plant. There is no need to dig up the bush. At the base of the flower you need to find branches with buds. Then you should cut off the shoots and move them to a shaded place.

Before planting, growth stimulation will be required. Cuttings need to be treated with preparations with a high potassium content. The buds on the planted cuttings should remain above the soil surface.

Under favorable conditions, rooting will occur in a month. Before planting in open ground, it is necessary to allow the cuttings to get stronger. After 60 days, you can move the heuchera to the flower garden.

Why doesn't heuchera bloom?

Fertilizer with high nitrogen content stimulates development decorative leaves. Heuchera may stop producing new buds.

There are several reasons that stop the formation of inflorescences. The crop may stop flowering after a cold winter. Excessive consumption of nitrogen components has a beneficial effect on leaf development. In this case, inflorescences may not be produced.

Planting material

Heuchera seeds “Purple Castle” are sold at a price of 19 rubles. Be sure to pay attention to the harvest date. A seedling with OCS (open root system) can be purchased at a price of 350 rubles.

A heuchera seedling with a closed root system can radically change its color in open ground.

The average price for heuchera in a container is about 450 rubles.

Heuchera is a genus of herbaceous perennial plants of the Saxifraga family. All representatives are native to North America and have popular names"beautiful root" and "coral bells". In one form or another, you can find heuchera flowers on every continent - there are tiny varieties, such as Heuchera snowy, and tall heat lovers, such as Heuchera maxima. The genus was named after Johann Heinrich von Heicher, a German botanist and professor of medicine in the 18th century. There are approximately 37 species, but it is still very difficult to systematize the genus because species often integrate with each other, hybridize, and flowers change noticeably in proportion to their development. Garden option Heuchera, known as Coral Bells (Heuchera sanguinea), has been hybridized with a huge number of other species.

Description of heuchera and its photo

There is an extensive range of flower sizes, flower shapes and types, foliage varieties and geographic tolerances. We offer you a short description of heuchera and photos of the plant in various phases of development. The growth form of heuchera is round mounds. They have a root stock of wood in the form of a crown at their base. It grows as a clump of leaves originating from a central crown just below, near the soil surface. They are prized as foliage plants, producing rosettes of leaves in shades of green, pink and bronze often variegated or textured with long dense flower clusters of white, green, pink or red in spring.

Leaves vary greatly in size and shape. But most of them are somewhat round, lobed and hairy, usually on petioles. Some have dark or shiny silver foliage. Look at the photo of heuchera in all its variety of textures and shades:

Heuchera flowers are small, bell-shaped (size 0.4-0.5 mm) on tall stems, radial, and can be bilateral. The calyx shares are usually equal. They are usually white and clawed. The stems have an airy appearance and are good when cut. Most flowers are not as interesting as foliage, so they often remain in the background.

The inflorescence is racemose, and the bracts are usually scale-like. There are usually a lot of seeds, but they are very small and have a dark brown tint. Size 0.7-0.8 mm. The fruit is capsule-shaped.

Flowering begins when the peduncle reaches 16-60 centimeters in height on bare or short glandular stalks. The following photo shows heuchera flowers:

Heuchera care

The only drawback of heuchera is its fragility. If the flower does not divide every 3-4 years, its crown becomes completely woody and ceases to produce decorative rosettes of leaves. Unlike Hosta or good wine, the flower does not get better from year to year. When organizing the care of heuchera, you should remember that they love open, neutral soil with good drainage. Free air circulation is also very important, so ideal option will open spaces in full sun or partial shade.

Northern Territory gardeners have found that a layer of winter mulch helps protect heuchera crowns during late-season cold spells. The hybrid flower has wide variability to changes in temperature and heat/humidity. Eastern species tolerate higher temperatures and humidity than western species. This is also worth considering when organizing the care of heuchera in your garden.

The plant can tolerate high temperatures until the soil dries out completely. Heuchera prefers neutral acidic soil, while they will grow best in slightly acidic soil. It also does not tolerate heavy soil combined with winter moisture. The crown may need to be lifted and replanted just above the soil.

Flowering period: late spring-early summer. In full sun, foliage color may change or die off during very hot periods in summer time. Wild alpine heuchera and miniature forms such as Petites grow well in sandy soil in rock gardens and stay small. Their graceful appearance goes well with other alphines. Petites grow well in rich garden soil and are very different in appearance - they are taller and much bushier and suitable for the front of the garden border.

Heuchera hybrids are grown as flowers and it is best to do this in groups, so they will bloom more efficiently. Larger leaf varieties are effective in small groups or even as individual plants, but can also be used in larger plantings along with deciduous ferns or hostas. One of strengths The flower is that it is evergreen and retains its beautiful color even in winter.

Planting heuchera and growing from seeds

There are several options for planting heuchera - either by growing from seeds or by cuttings.

Growing heuchera from seeds is used mainly only for varieties (hybrids are propagated from the parent bush). The seeds are sprinkled on the surface of the soil in late autumn or early spring. Do not cover the seed as they need light to grow. You can also keep them indoors for a while (about two months) before you plan to put them outdoors. Seed germination takes two to eight weeks. Transplantation to fresh air is carried out after the danger of frost has passed. Growing heuchera from seeds takes a long period of time from the moment the plant is planted until the appearance of developed rosettes of leaves and flowering.

The heuchera bush appears above the soil level immediately after the threat of frost has subsided. Water them well for the first year. In addition, watering should be no more than a slight release from heat or drained soil.

After flowering, the bush must be cut back - this will allow the plant to bloom more vigorously next year. Once every three to five years, it is necessary to divide the heuchera, thus keeping it from dying out.

During cold and rainy seasons, the roots may be exposed. Mulching the soil prevents the freezing and thawing of heuchera while growing from seeds and cuttings. Check the roots periodically to make sure they have not been exposed to frost. If possible, replant the bush.

Heuchera varieties

Currently for decorative design gardens, parks and alleys are used different kinds Heuchera flowers. We offer you only some of the most popular heuchera varieties that can be grown in your own garden without much effort and without special agrotechnical knowledge. Caring for heuchera is not difficult even for a novice gardener if the right type of flowers is initially selected.

Heuchera red

The red heuchera variety is also called coral bell. It is a herbaceous evergreen perennial plant that produces mounds of clumps 30-60 centimeters high and 30 centimeters wide. The leaves grow from the base of the bush on long petioles. They are rounded into small lobes 3-8 centimeters in length. The leaves are usually a very attractive dark green with lighter green marbling. The small, bright red flowers are in an inflorescence of loose panicles up to 15 centimeters tall at the tip of slender stems that are much higher than the foliage. Flowering stems usually bear several small leaves. The individual flowers are just 13mm long with bright red petals and red sepals that fuse at their bases to form a bell shape surrounded by petals.

The blood-red heuchera variety has flowers of a similar shade.

The original flowers of red heuchera grow wild in the mountains of Southern Arizona and New Mexico and partly in neighboring Mexico. Its favorite habitat is moist soil in partial shade. But it also grows well in full sun. Coral bells do not benefit from regular watering and suffer greatly during dry seasons. It likes rich, moist, but still very well-drained soil that is not too acidic. In winter, at a temperature of minus 20, mulching should be carried out to reduce the tendency of the ground and roots to freeze.

Different varieties of red heuchera can be propagated by dividing the bush in spring or autumn, approximately two to three times a year. Seeds can be planted in the spring, but the expected variety cannot be expected to grow. The easiest way to spread heuchera is still cuttings rather than planting seeds.

They can bloom for four or eight weeks, and sometimes longer if the flower stalks are removed in time. Used by Indians for medicinal purposes.

Heuchera hybrid

Hybrid heuchera looks more like blood red. But the size of its leaves and flowers is much larger. The shade of the petals can vary from white to red, although the arrangement on the peduncle is looser. The flowering of one of the hybrid varieties - Heuchera tremulosa - lasts about two years, but the plant often breaks due to gusts of wind.

More complex hybrid varieties obtained by crossing Heuchera americana with Heuchera pilosa. This variety is very different beautiful foliage, which is probably the most beautiful in its family. The shape of the foliage can be any and vary depending on the specific species. Color - brown, violet and purple. This species has very delicate flowering.

Heuchera caramel

Heuchera caramel has unique foliage color on a large, vigorous growing bush. The variety is native to southeastern North America and as a result blooms beautifully in summer heat and humid climates. It blooms rarely, since all the plant's energy is spent on beautiful foliage.

The plant reaches 30 centimeters in height and about the same in width. It has unusual, honey-yellow leaves. The flowers are light pink.

Heuchera purple castle

Heuchera purple lock is a perennial plant with ivy-shaped leaves of dark purple color. They look very nice in large quantities. Inflorescences are in the form of bell flowers. They look picturesque when cut. The stems have long white hairs that turn brown when dry.

Distribution from British Columbia to southern California

Heuchera cappuccino

Heuchera cappuccino is a more or less evergreen shrub with attractive, round, shallowly palmate, bronze-colored leaves ( Bottom part violet) and tubular flowers in raceme- or small panicle-shaped inflorescences, often with red calyxes and white flowers in early summer.

There are plants that can amaze even the most experienced gardeners with their splendor. One of them is heuchera. The constant decorativeness of its leaves and cute flowers will adequately decorate any garden. Therefore, heuchera is becoming increasingly popular in landscape design. Some consider it an unpretentious plant, others say it is difficult to care for. Let's look at all the intricacies of growing heuchera and draw our own conclusions.

Heuchera is a herbaceous perennial from the saxifrage family. Despite the fact that its homeland is North America, it received its name in honor of the German scientist Johann Heinrich von Heicher.

The plant forms a rosette of leaves near the ground, its diameter can be up to 60 cm, the flower stalks are leafless, reaching 50 cm. Reddish-pink or white small bells form openwork panicles. After flowering, a fruit is formed in the form of a capsule with very small seeds. The leaves are pubescent, rounded-lobed, most often divided into several lobes, serrated along the edges. They are the main decorative value of this plant, as they have various options colors, namely: dark green, red, orange, yellow, brown, burgundy, silver, purple with a silver web.

Types and varieties

In the wild, heucheras are found in two different habitats: forests and mountains. Therefore, initially they can be divided into two large types. Forest plants quickly adapt to garden conditions with nutritious and moderately moist soils, since these conditions are close to their natural ones. For mountain species that live in rocky areas, soils rich in organic matter and overly moist will be destructive. They need to create certain conditions.

Modern breeders have created species that are more unpretentious and highly adaptable.

Blood red heuchera (H.sanguinea)- This is a fairly hardy mountain species that feels great in our conditions. In the wild, its flowers are reddish in color, hence its nickname Coral Bells - “red bell”. This species was the first to be used by breeders in their work. They created varieties with more powerful, strong peduncles and branched inflorescences. The color of the flowers has a wide range: from white to dark red. Almost all summer long abundant flowering. The leaves of this species differ in density; their color can be simply dark green or with silver spots and veins, and sometimes with beige or white specks. It handles our winters well. Prefers partial shade and well-drained soil. Drought-resistant, but suffers in sunny places.

This species is represented by the following varieties: Alba, Robusta, Splendens, Snowstorm, Splish-Splash, as well as the Bressingham Hybrids varietal group.

Heuchera hairy (H.villosa)- this is already a representative of the forest. The name is due distinctive feature- large velvety leaves, as well as pubescent peduncles and petioles. It has greenish-cream, unremarkable small flowers. But one of its natural varieties, “Bronze Wave,” is a record holder among purple-leaved heucheras, since its bronze-colored leaves can have a diameter of up to 20 cm. Since this is a forest species, it requires soil rich in moisture and humus. Accordingly, it grows well in partial shade. Varietal plants of this species may have light green, purple or bronze leaves. A famous variety is Palace Purple.

Heuchera blood red variety"Splendens"
Heuchera pilosa Variety “Bronze Wave”

Heuchera cylindrical (H.cylindrica)- a hardy mountain species, characterized by relatively small leaves and fairly large flowers. The leaves are round in shape with blunt teeth and have a silver pattern or contrasting veins. Cylindrical inflorescences are located on high (from 60 to 90 cm) peduncles. In nature, bell flowers are greenish-beige. Coloring different varieties can be beige, pink, coral, green. This species requires good drainage and grows in sun and partial shade. Varieties of heuchera cylindrical: Green Ivory, Greenfinch, Hyperion.

Heuchera americana Variety “Green Spice”

Heuchera americana (H. americana) - a representative of forest edges, its second name is mountain geranium. The flowers are completely unremarkable yellow-green, and its main advantage is the large, jagged leaves of variegated color. Silvery spots and purple veins look unusual against a green background; the entire lower part of the leaf can also be purple. Some varieties have a red-crimson stripe along the edge of the leaf, but this phenomenon can only be observed in regions with warm winters.

The most spectacular representative of this species is the Green Spice variety.

Heuchera small-flowered (H.micrantha)- has tall (up to 70 cm) brownish peduncles, on which small beige flowers are collected in openwork panicles. The leaves of this species are beautiful, somewhat reminiscent of the familiar Norway maple. An interesting detail: the winter foliage of this plant is round, and the summer foliage is lobed. The color is traditionally dark green with beautiful silver spots, but there are varieties with purple foliage. Breeders tried to diversify the color of the leaves to black-brown and rich purple-bronze. Prominent representatives of this type are Palace Purple and Bresslngham Bronze. Soils need to be well moistened, with a small addition of organic matter.

Hybrid Heuchera (Heuchera x hybrida)- scientists created hybrid species Heuchera. Thus, as a result of crossing blood-red, American and small-flowered heuchera, a species called heuchera shaken (H. x brisoides) was obtained. As a result, we achieved longer flowering, as well as fairly large leaves and flowers. The colors of the new species of plants are white, pink and various shades of red. Green leaves with contrasting veins and specks. A small drawback is that heavy flower panicles can be blown over by the wind.

Heuchera small-flowered variety "Palace Purple"
Heuchera hybrid

Complex hybrids were obtained as a result of crossing Heuchera small-flowered, American, hairy and others, they were combined into the species American hybrids (H. x americana).

Preparing for landing

The best time to plant heuchera is the first half of spring. First you need to choose a location. Since their root system is superficial, this plant does not tolerate drought or stagnant water. Because of this, low-lying areas are not suitable for them. An important point is illumination. Among heucheras there are more and less light-loving varieties. However, none of them prefer direct sunlight. If you don’t know what variety you have, then openwork partial shade would be the ideal place. Also, the area should be well ventilated, but without drafts.

After we have chosen a place for planting, it is necessary to prepare good drainage (we use fine gravel, expanded clay, broken brick, coarse sand, etc.). Heucheras cannot tolerate summer stagnation of water, although they cope well with spring flooding. In addition to good drainage, the soil in the planting hole must be sufficiently moisture-absorbing (otherwise the plant will suffer from a lack of water), light and breathable. On heavy clay soils It is imperative to add humus based on straw or sawdust, crushed tree bark, finely chopped straw, wood chips, sand, and perlite. Organic and mineral fertilizers need to be applied half as much as usual for other plants.

The required soil acidity also depends on the type of plant. Forest heucheras and their varieties prefer a slightly acidic (pH up to 6.3) or neutral reaction and are quite nutrient soil. And mountain species and their varieties prefer neutral and slightly alkaline soil, so you can add ash to the holes for them. It will not only reduce the acidity of the soil, but also add the necessary microelements.

If you are planting a seedling purchased in a store, inspect it carefully. If there is a large amount of foliage and a poorly developed root system, some of the largest leaves must be removed. So the plant will have more strength settle down in a new place. Please note that the middle of the socket should not be covered with earth. The approximate distance between seedlings is 20-25 cm.

Propagation by seeds

It is not difficult to propagate heuchera from seeds. But two points should be taken into account. First: seeds do not transmit parental external characteristics(colors and shapes), a simple green-leaved bush may even grow. Very few of these plants will look like the parent or the picture in the bag. Second: after collection, heuchera seeds can only be viable for six months. Because of this, be careful when purchasing seeds, especially the packaging date. It should be noted that in special vacuum packaging their shelf life can be extended to one and a half years.

For sowing, prepare a container with sides and always with drainage holes. Prepare loose, nutritious soil (30% sand or perlite) with neutral acidity. The prepared soil must be sterilized (in microwave oven, pour boiling water over it or hold it over steam). When it has cooled, moisten it well (but it should remain crumbly), pour it into a prepared container and compact it. We sow the seeds carefully and, if possible, evenly over the entire surface of the soil.

Getting to know this one better a wonderful plant, like lupine, every gardener will want to plant it on his plot....

To make this easier, mixing the seeds with a small amount of dry sand will help. Since heuchera seeds are very small (similar to poppy seeds), there is no need to bury them. After sowing, cover the container with transparent film or glass and place it in a bright place. For this, the window sill is not a very good solution, since it is cold there and there is direct sunlight. The seedlings will germinate in about three weeks. The soil should not be allowed to dry out, nor should it become excessively waterlogged. From time to time you need to ventilate the seedlings by opening them for 20 minutes, and after 10 days the cover can be completely removed. When 3-4 leaves appear, the seedlings need to be picked. Planted in the ground in June, after hardening off the seedlings.

It is also possible to plant seeds in open ground before winter. After the first freezing of the soil, shallow grooves are made in it and heuchera seeds mixed with fine sand are evenly distributed. The landing site needs to be fenced off with something. and put spruce branches, straw or other covering material on this fence. This is necessary so that in the spring the young shoots that appear at the end of May are not raked with the covering material.

Dividing the bush

One of the features of heuchera is its rapid aging. Therefore, the plant needs to be rejuvenated periodically (about once every three years). This should be done when new leaves have already appeared, but flowering has not yet begun. The plant is dug up, divided into parts (everything that is dried and unhealthy is cut off) and planted in pre-prepared holes.

Heuchera can also be propagated by cuttings. They are settling in very well. To do this, take the tops of the cuttings (3-7 cm) and plant them in the shade in suitable light soil, water them well and cover them with large PET containers with a cut bottom (leave the lid open). It is necessary to ensure that the soil does not dry out. The cuttings will take root in about a month, and the bottles can be removed in another two weeks. These young seedlings should be covered for the winter.

Basic rules of care

Pests and diseases

Despite being quite demanding in care, heucheras are practically not susceptible to disease. Problems can be caused by an excess of moisture and organic matter, as well as increased soil acidity. These factors can cause spotting or powdery mildew. But if you follow the rules of care, problems should not arise.

Heuchera pests include slugs and snails. They need to be collected from young plants by hand late in the evening (since they hide during the day) or use metaldehyde.

For prevention, young plants can be powdered with ash.

The value of heuchera in landscape design is its high decorativeness. long time. From the moment young leaves grow until frost, it will maintain the beauty of your garden.

Heuchera will be the highlight of any flower bed and goes well with various plants. Since it does not like direct sunlight, you can plant the plant along the fence; this option is especially good for, where you need to take care of selecting shade-loving plants.

These beauties are good in a mono-planting when their varieties with different leaf colors are combined. Therefore, no matter how much trouble it takes to care for them, they will fully repay it with their unique, mysterious charm.

Heuchera, from the Latin Heuchera, is a popular ornamental perennial herbaceous plant from the Saxifraga family, popular in landscape design. It is very widely cultivated in open ground both in our country and abroad.

Botanical features

The decorative culture got its name in honor of the famous German botanist Johann Heicher. Known botanical description and characteristics of about sixty plant species belonging to the genus Heuchera. Many of them grow only in North America and Mexico. Some varieties are found in mountainous and coastal areas.

Usually, plant height does not exceed 0.5 m. Leaves are basal type, long petiolate. Heuchera foliage is striking in its variety of shades and can be not only the classic green color: there are species with white, cream, red, purple, brown, gray and silver leaves. The flowers are numerous and quite small, collected in paniculate inflorescences. The flower, depending on the variety, may have a red, pink, greenish or whitish color.

Popular types

The best varieties

There are a huge number of different varieties and hybrid forms of heuchera, but most often the most unpretentious and decorative varieties.

Heuchera: variety of varieties (video)

Landing rules

Despite the unpretentiousness of the ornamental crop, when planting and replanting heuchera, it is extremely important to choose the right site and follow the planting technology:

• depending on the varietal characteristics, seedlings of decorative crops should be planted in areas with good lighting or with slight shading; for a significant part of the varieties, semi-shaded areas with sufficient lighting in the morning should be allocated for planting;
• the area for planting any type of heuchera should be well protected from stagnant cold air and north wind;
• unpretentious plant It grows and develops best in light, nutritious, well-drained and permeable soils.

The distance between planted plants may vary depending on varietal characteristics, including the size of the above-ground part. After planting, it is necessary to provide the flowers with abundant watering and, if necessary, shading.

Growing from seeds and propagation

Most often, heuchera is propagated by bush division or by rooting cuttings. In the first case, you need to dig up a decorative bush and divide it into several parts. The method of propagation by seeds is less commonly used.

When propagating from seeds, you must remember the following:

• seed material remains viable for six months after collection;
• seeds packaged in foil packaging have a standard shelf life of no more than eighteen months;
• the soil for sowing seeds should be as loose as possible, with the addition of fine-grained sand or perlite;
• before sowing, the soil mixture should be disinfected under high temperature conditions;
• surface sowing of seeds is carried out in the first spring months on well-moistened and loosened soil;
• seed containers should be covered with plastic film or any other translucent material;
• if the sowing technology is followed, the first shoots appear in about two to three weeks;
• Seedlings are picked into separate planting containers when the third leaf appears.

In mid-May, young plants should be hardened off for a week, after which the plants are transplanted to permanent place into open ground.

The basic steps for caring for heuchera are very simple and do not require special knowledge, time and effort:

In regions with a cold climate and a long winter period, it is recommended to cover the crop with oak foliage in late autumn. Pruning last year's foliage should be done in early spring, after removing the winter shelter from the plants.

Beautiful heuchera in garden decor

Heucheras are in great demand in landscape design due to the following positive characteristics and species features:

• possibility of creating bright accents against the backdrop of green lawns;
• preservation of decorativeness throughout the season;
• a very rich selection from a huge number of species and varieties;
• possibility of growing as a decorative container crop;
• ability to manifest high level decorative both in well-lit areas and in the shade;
• compactness, unpretentiousness in cultivation, resistance to quite severe frosts;
• easy propagation, including from seeds;
• excellent compatibility with most other ornamental plants, including annual and perennial flowering crops;
• perfect for decorating borders and placing in the foreground;
• Possibility of placement on rocky areas and near artificial or natural reservoirs.

Heucheras “Lights of Moscow”, “Purple Tent” and “Caramel”, as well as other plant varieties, are very widely used in landscape design to create colorful compositions, which is especially important when it is necessary to fill free space in a garden or personal plot.

The decorative crop looks great in individual plantings, and the increased splendor and density of the above-ground parts make heuchera an ideal option for decorating rock gardens and rockeries. Many varieties can be placed in decorative flowerpots and flower containers, allowing you to decorate gazebos, patios and terraces.

Heuchera can be planted in compositions with almost any garden crops, but the combination of this ornamental plant with astilbe and bruners, daylilies and speedwell, chrysanthemums and ornamental grasses looks best. Heucheras look very impressive with hostas and ferns, irises and sedium, geraniums and primrose.

Heuchera- a genus of rhizomes herbaceous perennials the Saxifraga family, cultivated species and varieties of which are extremely in demand today in landscape design.

Heuchera flower - description

The dense bush of heuchera is formed by leathery, serrated leaves on long cuttings. The shape and color of the leaves is amazingly diverse: almost black, bright red, dark burgundy, amber, pink, purple, yellow, green and even silver leaves in all kinds of patterns and veins, specks and spots. The texture of the leaves is smooth, corrugated and curly. Heuchera blooms all summer, and even until frost, with small pink, white, cream or red bells collected in panicles. The heuchera fruit is a capsule in which seeds the size of a poppy seed ripen (about 20,000 seeds fit in 1 gram). Heuchera has been used in landscape design for a long time. Designers divide heuchera varieties into two categories: decorative-deciduous, the ancestor of which was American heuchera, and decorative-flowering, such as red or blood-red heuchera.

Features of growing heuchera

There are no obvious features or difficulties in growing heuchera, but this plant does have character traits, which will not hurt you to know. So:

• – for decorative deciduous varieties of heuchera, if you do not have the goal of collecting seeds in the fall, it is better to remove the peduncle as soon as it appears: they grow much higher than the bush and have an unkempt appearance, which causes damage decorative qualities plants;
• – peduncles of decorative flowering varieties are removed immediately after the heuchera fades;
• – over time, the lower leaves on the bush fall off, and the heuchera looks untidy. You need to dig up the plant before flowering and transplant it together with the earthen ball into a deeper hole to hide the bald stem;
• – at the beginning of growth, young heuchera leaves are bright and translucent, like flower petals, but as they mature, they thicken and darken;
• – Heuchera goes well with primroses, daylilies, astilbe, bergenia and ornamental cereals.

Planting heuchera

When to plant heuchera.

Heuchera is planted in March or April. Heuchera has good shade tolerance, so the best place for her - in the partial shade of other plants, where diffused light will fall on her. The best option– eastern or western side, where direct sunlight falls only in the morning or evening. If this is not possible, and you have to plant it in the sun, then you need to provide the heuchera with regular and more abundant watering. By the way, varieties with brightly colored leaves in an open sunny area become even brighter and more spectacular. And varieties with red leaves must grow in the sun, otherwise their leaves will remain green in the shade.

Heuchera is not picky when choosing soil; it can grow on any soil except acidic soil, the optimal pH is 5-6. Even a rocky area does not frighten the plant, because in nature, in its homeland, it covers the rocky shores of the Great Lakes. But the more fertile and loose the soil, the more attractive and lush the heuchera. Great importance has moisture capacity and, at the same time, good drainage of the soil on the site. Heuchera does not tolerate stagnation of water in the roots.

How to plant heuchera.

There are two methods of planting - seeds and seedlings. Heuchera seeds are simply sown in loose prepared soil and planted. But we remind you that seed propagation is not the most The best way, since it does not retain the species and varietal characteristics of the mother plant, and at best you will grow a simple heuchera with green leaves.

The seedling method is more reliable. Seedlings are grown in a greenhouse container and then planted in open ground to a depth of 3-4 cm at a distance of 20 cm from each other. The soil must be loose so that air can freely penetrate into the roots. Both heuchera from seeds in open ground and seedlings germinate in a month and a half.

Heuchera - care

How to care for heuchera.

Growing heuchera is not difficult, and caring for heuchera will not tire you. By and large, she does not need any care. In the first year of the growing season, the year of planting, the plant does not need feeding; in subsequent years, decorative flowering heuchera varieties need to be fed universal fertilizer for flowering plants, and decorative deciduous plants - with complex fertilizers for deciduous plants, respectively. The feeding time is before and after flowering, and the dose should be reduced by half compared to that recommended on the package.

Watering the heuchera should be regular, as the soil dries out - once every two days, and it is better to forget to water the heuchera than to do it twice - excess moisture harms it. But on hot, dry days you will have to water the heuchera twice a day - early in the morning and in the evening. You need to pour water under the bush, carefully so that the splashes do not fall on the leaves, which may become covered with burn spots.

If you don’t want to have trouble with weeds and loosening the soil after watering, mulch the heuchera planting with peat in the spring.

Heuchera propagation.

When the plant is 3-4 years old, its rosette may fall apart and you will see the exposed middle. This means that the time has come to divide the bush and plant its parts, thereby rejuvenating the heuchera. The best time for this method of propagation is May or early autumn. Divide the bush so that each division has 2-3 rosettes. Roots that are too long need to be shortened, and those on which signs of rot are found should be cleaned of rot and the wounds dusted with charcoal powder. Parts of the divided bush are planted in holes measuring 30x30 a little deeper than the mother plant was planted, at a distance of 25 cm from each other. After planting, it is advisable to water and mulch the area. Parts of the bush take root within a month. This method of propagating heuchera is called bush division.

Heuchera also reproduces in another vegetative way - by cuttings. Heuchera cuttings are carried out in June or July: cuttings are cut from the mother bush as close to the soil surface as possible, but without rhizome fragments, divided into pieces of 4-6 cm, the lower sections are powdered with a root former, partially freed from leaves and rooted in a mixture of peat and sand in homemade greenhouses located in partial shade. Do not forget to ventilate the cuttings and moisten the soil in the containers. Rooting occurs in 3-4 weeks.

Heuchera pests and diseases.

Heucheras get sick very rarely, and they are not afraid of pests, but sometimes they still suffer from powdery mildew, rust, gray rot and spotting. The cause of these ailments is excess fertilizer or stagnation of water in the roots of plants. Heuchera can be treated with a fungicide to get rid of powdery mildew, which covers the leaves with a whitish coating. And spotting and rust can be defeated by spraying the heuchera twice a month with a solution of Bordeaux mixture.

Among the pests dangerous to heuchera are snails, slugs, weevils, caterpillars and leaf nematodes, which can be eliminated with special insecticides.

Heuchera after flowering

Heuchera blooms, as a rule, at the beginning of summer and lasts two months, and sometimes longer. When the heucheras in the garden fade, special care they won't demand it from you. Cut off flower stalks with faded flowers unless you intend to wait for the heuchera seeds to ripen.

Preparing heuchera for winter

Heuchera winters in the garden. Under no circumstances should you cut off withered and yellowed heuchera leaves in the fall: they help the plant keep its roots warm in winter. Heuchera requires shelter for the winter, and it is better if you use oak leaves for this purpose. When spring comes, remove the cover and carefully trim last year's heuchera leaves with pruning shears as close to the soil surface as possible.

Types and varieties of heuchera

The genus Heuchera has approximately 70 species. Many of them grow naturally in forests and woodlands of the mountainous regions of Mexico and the United States. Heuchera species are conventionally divided into mountain and forest. We will introduce you to the most popular species and varieties among gardeners, which are used in landscape design and for breeding new varieties.

Heuchera blood red

belongs to mountain species. It has green leaves and bright red flowers. Americans call it the red bell. The leaves of Heuchera blood-red, forming a rosette, are much denser than those of other species, they are round and jagged. Some varieties of this species are distinguished by beautiful white or cream specks on the leaves. Peduncles reach a height of 50cm. This species is cold-resistant, which is why it is so popular among our gardeners. The most famous varieties are “Monet”, “Variegata”, “Hercules”.

Heuchera hairy

It is distinguished by large leaves with a velvety surface and pubescent peduncles and cuttings, which is why it got its name. The variety “Bronze Wave” has the largest leaves, up to 20 cm in diameter, bronze color, and “Rachel” has not only flowers, but also peduncles of a soft pink color.

Heuchera cylindrical

- also a mountain species, it has not only spectacular leaves, but also tall peduncles with a cloud of small flowers that seem to hover above the bush during flowering. This species is larger than others, and this attracted breeders who developed new varieties based on Heuchera cylindrical. Peduncles reach 90cm in height; large flowers of white, pink, green and coral colors bloom on short stalks. The leaves are heart-shaped, round, green with a silver pattern or veins of contrasting color. Varieties: “Greenfinch” with greenish-cream flowers, “Hyperion” - a compact bush with a peduncle height of only 50 cm and red-pink flowers.

Heuchera parviflora

- according to many gardeners, this is the most spectacular of the heucheras. Its leaf, shaped like a maple, is covered with silver spots, and some naturally occurring specimens have purple leaves. The paniculate inflorescence on a peduncle 60 cm in height consists of small creamy pink flowers with orange anthers. Of the popular varieties, the most famous is "Palace Purple" with dark purple leaves, which is the best perennial plant 1999, and 'Bressingham Bronze' with bronze-brown leaves.

Heuchera americana,

growing on the shores of the Great Lakes. In the USA it is called “mountain geranium”. It attracts with its leaves, forming a rosette about 20 cm high. WITH bottom side The leaves are brown-lilac in color, heart-shaped, rounded, long petioles. The panicles on peduncles 50-60cm high consist of yellow-green flowers. “Green Spice” is one of the most beautiful varieties of American Heuchera with green leaves and contrasting silver spots on them. During the growing season, the leaves change shades of green from yellower to darker, the silver spots increase, and a purple hue appears around the veins.

Heuchera hybrid

– this includes interspecific hybrids of Heuchera americana and blood-red with the participation of Heuchera parviflora. The flowers of this species resemble the flowers of the blood-red heuchera, but they are somewhat larger, as are the leaves with peduncles. White, coral, red or pink flowers bloom for more than two months. The leaf color is mostly green, but with contrasting veins and cream markings. The only drawback of these hybrids is that the flower stalks may fall due to strong wind and rain. Varieties: “Cancan”, “Cappuccino”, “Beauty Color”, “Ruby Vale” and others.

Heuchera gooseberry leaf

- this plant is so cold-resistant that even after wintering in the garden in severe frost it can completely retain its leaves, and it is this rare quality that attracts both flower growers and breeders.