Heuchera planting and care in autumn. Easy planting of heuchera in open ground

Heuchera small-flowered palace Purple castle Heuchera micrantha Palace Purple planting and care photo

Heuchera heuchera is a herbaceous perennial plant of the Saxifraga family, the name is derived from the Latin Heuchera. It is named after the German physician and botanist Johann Heinrich von Heicher. Its roots are from North America. The size of the plant is small, adult bushes of the plant reach 50 cm in height.

Heuchera is amazing ornamental plant, which I loved landscape designers, due to its bright leaf color. The highlight of this exquisite perennial is that during the growing season it can change its color more than once. It is impossible to find a more saturated plant among plants. different shades flower than heuchera.

Heuchera is a real find, because it will impress even the most demanding gardener, both professional and amateur. It seems that this culture collected all the colors for itself. Starting from silver, yellow, green and ending with black. These are also all shades of red, including purple, burgundy and soft pink. Every year, breeders delight gardeners and designers with new heuchera hybrids. All kinds of patterns, veins, and spots are also characteristic of heuchera. The leaves are leathery, toothed.

There are 3 types of texture:

1. smooth
2. corrugated
3. curly.

Heuchera flowers will delight you until frost with shades of pink, white, red and cream. Small bells are collected in a small panicle, attached to thin tall stems. The seeds are in the so-called box small size, about the size of a poppy seed.

Heuchera varieties are divided into two categories:

1. Ornamental foliage is a plant with gorgeous leaves, such as American heuchera.
2. decorative flowering, for example blood-red heuchera, which is valued in landscape design for your flowers.

Heuchera is a chic decoration for artificial ponds, a beautiful container plant, some varieties are used for cutting. Looks great with hostas and astilbes in mixborders.

Growing heuchera in the garden

Heuchera, despite its magnificence, is enough unpretentious flower. Growing it will not be difficult, just as there is nothing complicated in caring for it.

In order for the heuchera to please throughout the entire period of its growth, you need to know the following features:

1. To maintain the aesthetics of the flower bed, it is necessary to remove the flower stalks after the flowers have wilted, maintaining a harmonious appearance of the composition. But this is only if you are not interested in further propagation of the flower using seeds.
2. In heuchera, the peduncle is cut off immediately after the plant has finished flowering.
3. The lower leaves tend to fall off. In order to maintain the attractiveness of the flower bed, simply transplant the perennial into a more deep hole, in order to cover the bald trunk.
4. To avoid drying out, hill up the bush. Sometimes this procedure should be done a couple of times a season.
5. Over time, heuchera leaves darken and thicken, but at the very beginning, that is, in the first months, they are brighter and more transparent.
6. To create a harmonious design, use compositions from plants such as daylilies, ornamental grasses, and primroses.

Planting heuchera in spring and autumn in the ground

This shade-loving plant , therefore it is recommended to plant it in the ground in partial shade, without direct sunlight. The best option is the east side or the west side.

If the flower gets the afternoon sun, then it is necessary to maintain high humidity by abundant watering. You can design the flowerbed so that at lunchtime the bush is shaded by a taller plant. There are exceptions - red varieties. They reveal their palette only in a sunny flowerbed.

The video will tell you where and how to plant heuchera:

There should be no problems with the soil. Any with an acidity of 5-6 is suitable. Can also be added to soil dolomite flour or ash, this will deoxidize it. If you remember where heuchera comes from, namely from the mountainous regions of the country, then you can even plant the flower on a rocky area.

But still, give preference to fertile soil, so the heuchera will reward you with lush and luxurious flowering. Pay attention to the drainage, it should be about 3-5 cm. There should be no stagnation of water, so low areas are not suitable for planting. Experts also recommend sprinkling the rhizome with coarse sand or earth with coarse expanded clay, this will protect the heuchera root from rot.
There are two methods of reproduction:

• Seminal– they are collected from the peduncle, sown directly into the soil, previously loosened, and covered with soil. In order for seedlings to germinate more evenly, it is necessary to mix the seeds with sand. Before sowing, it is recommended to warm or freeze the soil. Plant in a low container, about 5 cm, with holes and cover with film or glass. After the third leaf, dive (distance 4-6 cm). We remove the cover for the flower. This method is only suitable for ordinary green varieties, because the seeds may not convey any varietal characteristics. A perennial blooms, which grew from seeds in the third year.
• Vegetative- the best option. The reason is that this guarantees the preservation of the varietal characteristics of the plant. It is easy to grow seedlings in a greenhouse from cut cuttings.

• In June or July, it is necessary to cut the cuttings so that they do not touch the rhizome.
• It is better to treat the cutting area with a root former; the leaves at the bottom are not needed, they can be removed, and after that the finished cuttings can be planted in peat or sand.
• For good growth and rooting it will take 2-4 weeks, with constant soil moisture and ventilation of the greenhouse.

Heuchera pests and diseases

Heucheras do not get sick often, and if this happens, the situation is not critical. The main thing is not to overfeed the plant and thoroughly drain the soil, because otherwise the perennial becomes weaker and does not resist disease.

If powdery mildew appears on the leaves or root rot, then dig up the perennial and treat it with a fungicide; it won’t hurt to replant it in another place. And if affected by spotting or rust, spray with a solution of Bordeaux mixture once every two weeks until complete recovery.
As for pests, you can use insecticides against snails, caterpillars, and leaf nematodes.

After flowering

The perennial begins to bloom in June. Flowering duration is 2 months, although it can be longer. Peduncles should not be picked; they must be carefully cut off. However, this is not necessary to obtain seeds. There is no need to remove the leaves, but more on that below.

Wintering Heuchera

This culture overwinters easily, a little preparation is enough for comfort. Heuchera's winter hardiness is excellent, but in harsh winters you should play it safe. Leave the dried leaves untouched; later in the spring, after frosts, they are removed with pruning shears to activate and start the growth of new buds. This will additionally protect the plant from severe frosts. The main shelter should be constructed from oak leaves, spruce branches, hay, pine needles, straw or other similar material.

Types and varieties of heuchera Description and photos

There are quite a lot of varieties of heuchera - about 70 names. Most of them grow in forests and near mountain rivers in the USA and Mexico. The main types of heuchera are called: mountain and forest. Below we will look at the most popular varieties, which are used not only for decorating flower beds or creating a unique landscape design, but also for breeding more and more new varieties of heuchera. Hybrids are created in two directions, the first - lush flowering, the second is the decorative splendor of the leaves.

Heuchera blood red Heuchera sanguinea

This variety belongs to the mountain species. It is characterized by pure green, or with small splashes of silver, cream and white, leaves. They are denser in structure than the leaves of other varieties of this perennial. The flowers are rich in color, red or dark pink, 1-1.5 cm in length.

The height of the bush reaches 40 cm in length. The peduncle is unstable and thin. Since in nature Heuchera comes from mountainous and northern places, it is very hardy. That's why flower growers loved her so much. The most comfortable place for blood-red heuchera will be a well-ventilated, shady area with excellent drainage. The most common varieties are Monet, Variegata and Hercules.

Heuchera villosa

It has velvety and slightly pubescent leaves, quite large in size. The flowers are small, cream-colored, and bloom in June–August. In nature, it can be found in river valleys of the United States. Varieties differ in foliage color.

Heuchera cylindrica

It is also a mountain species, with a high peduncle; glandular stems reach up to 90 cm. The flowers during flowering are large, they are white, coral, pink and green. The inflorescences are very dense. The leaves are green, toothed, rounded. The striking sheets feature a silver pattern plus veining in a contrasting color. Popular varieties of heuchera cylindrical: Greenfinch, Hyperion, Green Ivory.

Heuchera small-flowered Heuchera micrantha

Heuchera small-flowered obsidian Heuchera-micrantha ‘Obsidian’ in garden design photo

Bears the title of the most spectacular species. This is well deserved. The thing is that in nature the color of the leaves is purple, and breeders have added brightness to the already chic look. The leaf shape is maple. Peduncle 60 cm, small flowers of creamy pink color. The plant is unpretentious, frost-resistant, loves slightly acidic soil. The variety Palace Purple belongs to Heuchera small-flowered; in 1999 it was recognized as the best perennial.

Heuchera americana

Known as mountain geranium. In nature, American heuchera grows near the Great Lakes. It is attractive for its leaves, namely its red veins. Below is a purple leaf. The shape of the leaf is rounded, and the ends are beautifully jagged. During the growing season it changes color, the brightest shades are in autumn and spring.

Heuchera hybrida Heuchera hybrida

Heuchera hybrid Caramel Heuchera ‘Caramel’ Coral Bells photo in the garden

It turned out by crossing blood-red heuchera with American heuchera. The leaves, peduncles and flowers are larger than those of its predecessors. The leaves are green with contrasting veins, and the flowers are white, red or pink. Varieties: Cancan, Beauty Color, Cappuccino, Ruby Vale.

Heuchera grossulariifolia

It differs from other representatives of heuchera by its excellent frost resistance. Even in harsh climates with severe frosts, there is no need to worry about its wintering. This is a small bush, 15 cm to be precise, and the leaves are about 7 cm in diameter.

Heuchera flowers are quite popular among gardeners and are widely used in landscape design. This herbaceous perennial came to us from the countries of North America, and it was named in honor of the German botanist Johann Heinrich von Heucher. This crop is in demand by gardeners, first of all, for its decorative functions. The leaves of the plant have the property of changing their color several times during the growing season, which makes it possible to use heuchera in a wide variety of applications. flower arrangements.

Heuchera: varieties and photos

Among the cultivated species of heuchera, there is a huge variety of varieties. Below we will look at the options most often grown in the gardens of our country:

1. American heuchera reaches a height of about 15-20 cm, has round leaves, the edges of the leaves are slightly jagged. The foliage is purple underneath and has beautiful contrasting veining on the upper green side. Heuchera flowers are discreet, the peduncle grows up to 60 cm in height and is covered with small panicle-shaped inflorescences. Almost all varieties of American Heuchera change leaf color depending on the season. The plant has its brightest shade in the autumn and spring months.
   
   
2. Heuchera pilosa has large fleecy leaves, the diameter of which can reach 20 cm. The petioles and peduncles of the crop are also covered with villi. The color of plants may vary depending on the specific variety.
   
   
3. The leaves of Heuchera parviflora are shaped like maple leaves. Their lacy edges are most pronounced in summer, and by winter the blades on the foliage practically disappear. The most popular variety of this crop is considered to be Heuchera purpurea, which has a beautiful, rich shade of leaves. There are species whose foliage has silvery inclusions. The stems of the plant are covered with small light beige flowers.
   
   
4. Heuchera cylindrical produces long peduncles reaching a height of 60 to 90 cm. The flowers of the plant are greenish-white, inconspicuous. The rosette of leaves is small, compact, the foliage has rounded teeth, is colored green tint with bright veins. Depending on the variety, the color of the leaves and flowers may vary.
   
   
5. Heuchera red is one of the most spectacular plant species. The culture has quite dense leaves deep pink, crimson or red shades. The foliage has jagged edges and may change color throughout the growing season.
   
   
6. Heuchera hybrid is similar to the previous crop variety, but differs in larger leaves and flowers, as well as in the height of the peduncle. Hybrid heuchera blooms profusely and for quite a long time, about 2 months. The inflorescences are colored white, red or pink. The foliage looks very impressive thanks to the beautiful bright veins that contrast in color with the leaf plate.
   
   
7. Heuchera gooseberry leaf has small leaves, reaching a diameter of 7 cm and having 3 or 5 lobes. The height of the bush is about 15 cm, the peduncle grows up to 60-65 cm. The flowers are large, painted white, reaching 5 mm in diameter.
   
   

Subtleties of growing heuchera

Before growing heuchera, you should know some features of this plant:

1. If you are not going to propagate the decorative foliage crop with seeds, but are fighting to preserve the picturesque appearance of heuchera, then it is better to remove the peduncle at its first appearance. The inflorescences of these species are not very beautiful, but their stems grow much higher than the rosette of leaves and spoil the appearance of the flowerbed.
2. As for decorative flowering varieties, their flower stalks can be cut off after the buds have withered.
3. In adult bushes lower leaves may crumble over time, and therefore, heuchera loses its decorative effect. In such a case, you need to dig up the plant before it begins to bloom, and then transplant it into another hole. We will discuss this method of transplantation below.
4. Heucheras change their appearance throughout the entire period of development. The youngest seedlings have very delicate, translucent foliage, bright shade. Over time, the leaves become denser and acquire a darker and saturated color.
5. In a flower arrangement, this crop can be planted next to astilbe, primrose, daylily, bergenia or ornamental cereals.

Heuchera - planting and care

Time and place for planting crops

The ideal time for planting this plant in the ground is considered to be the first half of spring - March and April. The culture thrives in shaded areas, so it is best to place the flowerbed on the east or west side of the house, under a spreading tree or in another similar place. If your garden plot does not have a sufficiently shaded area, you can plant the heuchera in the sun and provide it with regular abundant watering. It is worth noting that decorative deciduous varieties under bright sunlight acquire a more attractive shade of leaves. And for heuchera with pink and red foliage, it is recommended to select a well-lit sunny area.

Features of the soil for the plant

One of the main conditions for growing heuchera is properly selected soil. This culture will take root well in fertile, light soil with neutral acidity. The ideal pH level for heuchera is 5-6 units. You can increase the alkalinity of the soil by adding chalk or wood ash immediately before planting. Ash will also be a good fertilizer for your flowers.

Among other things, for growing heuchera it is important to provide good drainage soil. Water should not stagnate at the roots, as excess moisture will cause rot and the plant will die. Making drainage is quite simple: before planting, pour heuchera into the dug hole. a large number of expanded clay or brick fragments. In wet weather or with excessive watering, the drainage layer will absorb excess liquid, and during periods of drought, the plant's roots will be able to take moisture from the drainage.

If you purchased heuchera seedlings in early spring when it is too early to plant them in open ground, transplant the crop into suitable containers and leave it in a room or in a greenhouse for a while. When the threat of spring frosts has passed, the heuchera can be moved to a permanent place in open soil. If you bought a plant in a pot, when replanting, carefully clean the roots from the substrate and trim their ends. If you see that heuchera has a large number of leaves, but it root system is poorly developed, then remove some of the largest foliage. In this case, the plant will take root well in the new place, and its roots will become stronger. During planting, immerse the roots in the hole so that there is no empty air space between them, and the core of the rosette is not covered with soil.

Heuchera care

Proper care of this crop involves timely watering with a sufficient amount of liquid. Although he doesn’t like heuchera excess moisture, it also does not grow very well in dry soil. Poor watering has a particularly negative effect on the plant during the flowering period. Make sure that the soil around the bushes is moderately moist. When watering, try to ensure that the water saturates the soil to a sufficient depth. Irrigation is best done twice a day, morning and evening. To keep moisture in the ground long enough and the roots not to dry out, mulch the soil around the bushes every fall with leaves, straw or peat.

It is not necessary to feed the heuchera with fertilizers if it grows in optimal light and receives enough moisture. If you decide to add a little to the soil nutrients, then do it in moderation. Heucheras can be fed twice a season: before flowering and after the inflorescences fall off. As fertilizers, it is better to use complex compounds with a low nitrogen content.

Heuchera pests include snails and slugs. These creatures attack the foliage and spoil the young shoots of the crop. Leaves that have been visited by slugs become covered with powdery mildew and rot, and then wither and fall off. Excess moisture has an adverse effect on plant health. If water stagnates in the soil, the roots rot and the plant dies. In such a case, you can dig up a diseased bush, cut off healthy branches from it and transplant them as cuttings into a greenhouse.

To prevent the heuchera from freezing in winter, it is covered with spruce branches or rotted leaves. You can add an additional layer of snow on top or cover the bushes with lutrasil. With the arrival of spring, do not rush to remove the covering material, wait until the soil has completely thawed. When it gets warm enough outside, unwrap the heuchera and remove the old leaves. Pour a little under the roots warm water with divorced people in it mineral fertilizers.

Heuchera propagation methods

Growing heuchera from seeds

The simplest and the easy way propagation of this crop is sowing seeds. When growing heuchera in this way, you get young bushes with remarkable appearance. But it should be noted that hybrid varieties As a rule, with such propagation they can lose their varietal characteristics.

You can purchase crop seeds at a specialty store or from another gardener, but more reliable and cheap way- This means storing seed yourself. Just keep in mind that the seeds are saved good germination about 6 months; after six months, some of the grains may simply not sprout. The seed should be stored in a tightly closed, airtight container.

Seeds are planted in early spring, during the month of March. To sow, you need to select fertile soil, disinfect it, then pour it into suitable containers, moisten and loosen it. You can also pour a small, 3-4 mm thick layer of fine sand on top of the soil. After planting the seeds in the ground, place the containers in a shaded area and keep the soil moist. The ambient temperature should be kept at 22-24°C. Under such conditions, heuchera shoots will appear approximately 3 weeks after sowing the grains. Slightly grown sprouts should be planted in separate containers and left in the greenhouse until the root system becomes strong enough to transplant flowers into open ground.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

Some heuchera varieties require periodic replanting, because over time their stems stretch, the lower leaves fall off, and the trunk becomes bare. To give back to the plants decorative look, every 2-3 years they need to be trimmed and planted in a new hole. This anti-aging pruning occurs as follows:

1. After the plant has flowered, you need to cut off the flower stalks and remove the bare parts of the stems. You can start replanting before flowering begins.
2. Then you should sprinkle the cut areas with wood ash and special compounds that stimulate root formation.
3. The number of leaves needs to be reduced, and the prepared cuttings can be planted in a greenhouse. When digging them into the ground, try to place the center of the rosette above the surface of the ground. Sand is best for soil.
4. Don't forget to leave a small hole near the stem into which you will apply fertilizer.
5. The seedlings are transferred to open ground when they take root in the greenhouse. But when transplanting to a flowerbed, it is also important to take into account the calendar planting dates. If, for example, plants send out roots in the fall, then it is better to postpone replanting them in open ground until spring.
6. In the first weeks after planting the plants in the flowerbed, provide the heucheras with good watering and do not forget to provide the seedlings with shelter from direct sunlight. When the crop takes root on the site, the shelter can be removed.

If the bushes are not replanted in time, they may die in the winter months, since the bare stems do not tolerate frost well.

Heuchera propagation by cuttings

When propagating by cuttings, you can take the fragment of the plant you need from flowering bush. There is no need to dig up the entire heuchera. At the bottom of the plant, find branches with buds, trim the shoots and transfer them to a greenhouse or well-shaded area. Treat the branches with potassium-containing preparations and plant them in the ground so that the buds are above the surface of the ground. After about 4-5 weeks, the cuttings should take root. After another 1-2 months, the plant can be transferred to an open flowerbed.

If the cuttings do not take root in the fall, leave them until next spring, covering them with spruce branches or other material to protect them from the winter cold.

Using heuchera in landscape design

This culture is valuable because it can preserve decorative properties enough for a long time. After the leaves grow and before the onset of autumn frosts, heucheras will look great. This plant is used in a variety of flower arrangements in flower beds, rosettes and borders. Heucheras can decorate the banks of ponds, rockeries or alpine coaster. Due to its ability to maintain the same shape for a long time, heuchera is often used to create designs with clear boundaries or strict geometric shapes. This culture goes well with astilbe, hosta, primrose, brunera, and ornamental cereals.

Heuchera garden impresses even the most fastidious connoisseurs of garden exotics. Garden decorators and experienced amateur gardeners very often say that correctly selected plants will help create an unforgettable picture in each area. For this purpose, heuchera is often used in landscape design. A photo of this plant and tips for caring for it can be found in this article.

Heuchera is a perennial representative of the Saxifraga family. Heuchera was first discovered in the mountains of western North America. Gradually this plant spread to other regions.

Heuchera is a perennial representative of the saxifrage family.

The main feature of heuchera is its leaves, which have a wide range of colors. The freshness and decorativeness of this plant is preserved with early spring before the onset of the first cold weather. Therefore, heuchera is used very often. You can see in the photo various options using this plant to decorate the garden and surrounding area.

Landing place

The appearance of heuchera, the appearance of flowers and the brightness of the leaves are largely determined by the correct choice of place for planting the plant. Young heuchera grows best in the open sun. However, it must be protected from wind and cold.

An adult heuchera, as a rule, feels great on almost any garden plots. Although some varieties are better planted in areas where the sun hits only in the morning.

Site, planting and care open ground where heuchera will grow will bring success if the soil is nutritious, light and permeable. After all, when water stagnates in the soil, the root system begins to rot and the heuchera gradually dies.

Growing and care

In order for heuchera to grow well, caring for it involves periodically feeding it with mineral fertilizers. In this case, the concentration required is half as much as for others garden crops. Excess fertilizer has a negative effect on heuchera. After all, initially it grew on low-nutrient mountain soils. Excessive watering causes the root system to rot. Therefore, you need to water the plant carefully. Hilling of heuchera is carried out no more than once a year, when the base of the plant grows above the ground level.

Heuchera is propagated by dividing the bush.

Heuchera, planted and cared for correctly, loses its aesthetics every 3-5 years. In this case, the plant can be replanted. It is preferable to do this before or after flowering. For example, in the spring after new leaves appear or in the fall, when the plant finishes blooming.

To replant, the heuchera is carefully dug up and divided into several small bushes to expose the main stem. It is trimmed to young tissue. Dead shoots should be pruned to small living small buds. They are located in the axils of dead old leaves. After this, it is necessary to shorten the excessively overgrown roots and remove their rotten areas, leaving only healthy tissue. All cuts are sprinkled with crushed coal.

For planting, you need to choose a shaded place and dig holes measuring 30x30 cm. Ash and any mineral or compost fertilizer are poured into them. Then a plant is planted, which must be watered immediately. The growth of a new root system usually occurs within 40-45 days. All this time, the plant must be covered from excessive sun. Then the heuchera can be transplanted to its permanent place.

How to grow heuchera from seeds

Heuchera reproduces well by seeds. The seeds remain viable for about six months after they are collected. When stored in foil packaging, the viability of the seeds increases to one and a half years. You need to pay special attention to this when purchasing seeds.

Seeds are planted in wide vessels 5 cm or more in height. You can use, for example, plastic food containers. They need to be filled with loose soil with the addition of perlite or sand. Seeds are planted only in heated soil. To do this, you need to keep it in the oven or in microwave oven immediately before disembarkation, but no more than 5-7 minutes. Another option for heating the soil is pouring boiling water. In this case, sowing begins after the soil dries.

Sowing can begin at the end of March or at the beginning of April. It all depends on the climate in a particular region and on the lighting. To ensure uniform germination of heuchera, the seeds are mixed with sifted sand.

Having very small seeds, heuchera requires surface planting without additional deepening. The soil for sowing needs to be moistened, loosened and leveled. After the mixture of seeds and sand is evenly distributed, the container is covered with polyethylene or glass.

To provide the seedlings with enough light, it is best to place containers with them near a window. A draft can destroy seedlings. At the same time, you should not forget about periodically ventilating the room where the seedlings will sprout.

The first shoots, as a rule, appear after 15-20 days. After which you need to slightly lift or make holes in the glass or polyethylene covering the seedlings. Seedlings are picked after the initial 3 leaves appear. In this case, the distance between them must be at least 4-6 cm.

Young shoots should grow in moderately moist soil. Overdrying or excessive waterlogging of the soil can destroy heuchera seedlings. In order for rosettes to form before the onset of winter cold, the seedlings need to be taken out into the open air around mid-May. The reservoir with the shoots is dug into the ground in an area protected from direct sunlight. Shortly before the onset of cold weather, seedlings need to be wrapped in spruce branches.

Use of heuchera in design

Popularity and prevalence of decorative perennial garden plant Heuchera in landscape design is determined by a number of its features, in particular:

• beauty, compactness and unpretentiousness;
• low demands on growing conditions;
• shade-loving with high tolerance to direct sunlight;
• ease of reproduction and resistance to diseases;
• preservation of decorative qualities throughout the season;
• possibility of growing on rocks or near water;
• lack of conflict with other plants;
• growing both in open ground and in containers;
• variety of varieties and species;
• frost resistance.

These properties and features of heuchera make it almost indispensable in landscape design for both beginners and beginners. experienced gardeners. The variety of heuchera varieties, the number of which is close to half a thousand, allows you to choose a single plant to suit every taste or use several varieties to create original compositions.

It should be noted that one of the most common methods of using heuchera in decorating a site is decorating a flower garden with low vegetation density. Heuchera bushes allow you to disguise bald spots or empty areas formed during the seasonal rotation of plants, thereby forming a smooth transition from one group of plants to another. Due to the fact that heuchera does not lose its attractiveness almost throughout the entire growing season, it is an important decorative element or a separate flower bed.

One of the natural properties of the heuchera bush is the ability to maintain a constant shape for a fairly long period. In this regard, heuchera is often used to decorate borders, flower beds or flower beds that have a certain clear geometric shape. What is required, for example, for zoning personal plot or the formation of flower beds of complex shapes. Quite often, heuchera is used in combination with lilies, primroses or bruners. You can also find a very beautiful combination of garden or flower garden design - hostas, heucheras and other plants with decorative leaves planted together.

The various subspecies of heuchera are perennial plants that are resistant to extreme seasonal temperature changes. However, when designing a border, flower bed or flower beds, you should remember that young plant at low temperatures The root neck may freeze and become damaged. In this regard, when planting a plant, you should leave the possibility of insulating the lower part of the bush with leaves or sawdust.

In cases where an adult plant exhibits a decrease in size or thinning of leaves, the heuchera bush should be replanted or planted in areas with undepleted soil. Transplantation can be done in early spring or late autumn. Large bushes must be divided into several daughter bushes.

Heuchera in landscape design (see photo) in combination with other plants can form the basis of original garden compositions that delight the gardener’s eye almost all year round.

Various types of heuchera

Types of heuchera (see photo) are extremely diverse and differ from each other both in shape and color of flowers and leaves. Heuchera leaves are distinguished by the fact that during the flowering period they acquire a very bright and rich color, determined by the specific variety or type of plant, and over time they darken, which increases the decorative qualities of the plant.

Sadovoe flowering plant Heuchera, the types and varieties of which are divided according to the shape and color of leaves and flowers, is a small-sized bush with dense shiny leaves of the most bizarre shape. Leaves can be smooth, wavy, or corrugated. The color of the leaves can vary from almost white to dark green, both uniform in color and with chaotic spots or specks. Some varieties of heuchera are yellowish or brown base of the leaf, smoothly turning into green or dark green.

Heuchera blooms almost from the beginning of summer until late autumn. The heuchera flower is not large, it has the shape of a bell. Individual flowers are collected in inflorescences located on straight long stems. The color of the inflorescences can range from bright white to dark red, depending on the specific plant species. After flowering ends, hollow fruits in the form of capsules with seeds form on the stems. The number of seeds in one box can reach 10-20 thousand pieces.

External diversity attracts gardeners to the heuchera plant. Varieties and photos with the name of each variety or type of plant are presented in the photo gallery.

Heuchera species are divided by origin into mountain and forest. In particular, the red mountain heuchera, from which many decorative plants originate garden species heuchera, differs from other species by dense green jagged leaves with small marbled veins and bright red or pink flowers. American Heuchera is a forest species and is a bush with rounded, heart-shaped yellowish leaves and yellow-green flowers.

Common species also include heuchera pilosa and heuchera cylindrical. The latter got its name for the cylindrical shape of the inflorescence, which has different colors and shades, depending on the variety. Garden heuchera also has an original appearance.

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. By using exotic plant you can hide empty areas or decorate infertile areas. A 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 sunlight is allowed only in the early morning.

Heuchera prefers brightly lit areas.

For indoor growing, you should choose eastern window sills.

Temperature

During the warm season, the ideal temperature for heuchera should be in the range of +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 refill it periodically. wet 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 a high nitrogen content. 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 change upper layer waterlogged soil and remove affected areas of the crop.

Powdery mildew, caused by microscopic fungi, can harm heuchera. At the emergence stage white plaque the crop should be thoroughly treated with 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 - manually collecting all pests. 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.

At 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 affordable way 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. Crushed charcoal is ideal. 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 in winter period bare shoots will remain on the heuchera; the plant will not withstand severe frost.

Heuhera cuttings

For reproduction you need to 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 landing in open land it is necessary to allow the cuttings to grow stronger. After 60 days, you can move the heuchera to the flower garden.

Why doesn't heuchera bloom?

Fertilizer with high level nitrogen content stimulates the development of 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 herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the Saxifraga family. IN natural environment lives in rocky areas of North America. The name is given in honor of the German doctor, botanist Johann Heinrich von Heicher.

Heuchera is a compact bush about 50 cm high with exquisite, luxurious leaves that change color during the growing season, more than once. No other plant can compare with its rich palette and varied combinations of variegated colors.

The leaves are leathery, attached on long petioles, and have serrated edges. They can be smooth, corrugated, curly. The leaves can be colored bright red, almost black, maroon, amber, pink, purple, yellow, green, silver color with stripes, specks, speckles, patterns.

There are decorative deciduous and decorative flowering heucheras. Small bell-shaped flowers are painted white, cream, red, they are collected in paniculate inflorescences. Flowering will last all summer, it can bloom until frost. The fruit is a capsule filled with small seeds (1 g contains about 20,000 seeds).

Growing heuchera from seeds When to sow seedlings

Heuchera is propagated by seed and vegetative methods.

Heuchera ‘Marvellous Marble’

Heuchera ‘Marvellous Marble’ photo

The fantastic coloring of the leaves of the Marvelous marble variety Heuchera ‘Marvellous Marble’ combines shades of silver, purple, pink and green. The marble pattern, with clear delineation of expressive veins, attracts the eye even from afar.