Heuchera

The Heuchera plant is a herbaceous perennial from the Stonefragment family. Under natural conditions, it lives in the forest or mountainous areas of the North American continent. The name of Heuchera comes from the surname of the German doctor and botanist I.G. von Heicher.

Heuchera forms small bushes no more than half a meter high. This plant can bloom quite elegantly, but the main feature of heuchera is its large and beautiful foliage. During growth, its color can change several times. The palette of colors of leaf plates includes many tones of yellow, green, red and other colors, as well as their combinations.

Due to its unpretentiousness, as well as spectacular leaves and flowers, Heuchera has found wide application in landscape design.

Description of Heuchera

Heuchera forms fairly compact bushes. The foliage of this plant mainly develops from the root. The leaf blades have long petioles, a leathery surface, and lobed edges, complemented by denticles. The shape and color of the leaves may vary. The palette of their colors is considered especially diverse. It includes shades of pink, red, burgundy, honey, yellow, green, silver, purple and almost black. The surface of the leaf can be additionally decorated with colored streaks, spots, streaks or specks.

Heuchera bloom lasts all summer, sometimes it can last until the first frost. During this period, high panicle inflorescences form on the bushes. They include small flowers, shaped like bells. Their color can be white, cream, yellow-green, as well as pink or red. After their flowering, small dark seeds are tied.

All varieties of Heuchera are conventionally divided into two large groups: with decorative leaves (derived from American Heuchera) and with decorative flowers.

Brief rules for growing heuchera

The table shows brief rules for growing heuchera in the open field.

Features of heyhera care

Geykhera is an easy plant to grow, but caring for multi-colored bushes still has a number of features:

• The leaves of the plant usually change color from lighter to darker. Young leaves can be thin and slightly transparent, but they get denser as they grow.
• As it grows, the lower leaves of Heuchera die off. Because of this, the short trunk of the bush begins to bare. To fix this, before flowering, such a heuchera is dug out of the ground along with a soil clod and planted with a slightly larger depression, hiding the bare area.
• Heucher peduncles, which are considered decorative deciduous, are usually removed. They often spoil the appearance of the plant and give it a sloppy look due to the disintegration of the outlet. An exception is made only for bushes from which seeds will be collected.
• Decorative flowering heucheras also need pruning of peduncles, but this is done after their flowering. This procedure helps to prolong flowering and improve the appearance of the bush. An exception is also made for seed specimens.
• Heuchera can be used in group plantings, as well as in compositions with miniature shrubs, garden flowers or decorative types of cereals. In addition to flower beds, with the help of geyher, rock gardens, rockeries or garden paths are often decorated. Sometimes the bushes are grown in pots or containers. Inflorescences of some varieties can be used for bouquets. They retain their appearance for up to 3 weeks.

Planting Heuchera in open ground

What time to plant

Heuchera seedlings are planted in the ground in the spring, after the ground has warmed up. These plants are shade-loving, so the place should be slightly shaded. Usually, a corner is selected for the bushes on the east or west side of the garden. So the direct sun will hit them only in the morning or evening. Heuchera is often planted under trees, but the shade from their crown should not be too dull.

On the sunny side, Heuchera will need more moisture. At the same time, the degree of illumination can affect the color of the heuchera foliage. In the light, the bright color of its leaves becomes even richer. At the same time, red-leaved heucheras are considered the most light-loving. In the shade, their foliage will begin to take on a normal green color.

The soil

Heuchera is undemanding to the quality of the soil, but grows best in neutral or slightly acidic soil. Too acidic or alkaline earth will not work for her. Bushes can be planted in rocky areas - in nature, many plant species live on rocks. But nutritious soils will have a positive effect on the splendor and decorative effect of the bush. The main requirement for any land for cultivation is the ability to pass air and water. The stagnation of excess moisture at the roots will have a bad effect on the health of the plant, so you should not plant it in a lowland.

Plantings should be periodically cleared of weeds. To slow down their growth, in the spring, you can mulch the garden. This will also eliminate the need to loosen the soil next to the bushes - their root system is shallow. Periodically, the bushes should be huddled - their roots can grow above the ground level, forming a hummock. It is especially important to do this before wintering the plant.

How to plant Heuchera correctly

For planting Heuchera, seedlings obtained from seeds or seedlings purchased at a store are suitable. Store plants should look healthy and have a closed root system. The size of the bush does not affect its survival rate. Such bushes should be planted in the beds from April to the end of summer. Later plantings may not have time to take root until frost.

When sowing seeds, it is important to remember that this method of propagation does not guarantee the preservation of varietal characteristics, therefore, instead of colored foliage, you can get an ordinary green-leaved bush.

Seeds can be harvested from your own plants or purchased in packs. But the seed should be as fresh as possible. Under normal conditions, seeds remain viable for only about six months. In a vacuum store packaging, this period is increased to about 1.5 years.

Most often, heuchera seeds are pre-sown for seedlings in early spring. For this, a neutral substrate containing sand or perlite is used. Due to the small size, the seeds can not be buried. After that, the container is covered with a film and placed in a well-lit, warm place. As it dries, the soil is slightly moistened with a spray bottle, and the film is periodically cleaned of condensation. Seedlings should appear within 2-4 weeks - this is valid both for sowing in a container and in open ground. A week after the emergence of sprouts, the shelter can be removed. When several true leaves are formed on the seedlings, they are dived into peat tablets or separate cups. At first, the seedlings may seem small and weak, and their development is slow. Such seedlings are transferred to the ground only after warm weather has established on the street. The sprouts are planted at a distance of about 20 cm, trying not to deepen them too much. Seedlings bloom in about the 3rd year.

Seeds can be planted before winter, but they do this only with the onset of cold weather, so that the heucheras do not have time to germinate. Delicate young sprouts will not be able to withstand frost. The sowing bed is not covered, and shoots will appear on it only by the beginning of next summer. In comparison with seedlings, such winter plantings are considered stronger and more seasoned.

Geyhera care in the garden

After planting the Heuchera in the open ground, further care for it will be quite simple.

Watering

Geichera loves moisture, but does not tolerate waterlogging. A short period of drought will affect the plant much less than an overflow. The most drought-resistant species are considered to be with silvery leaves.

Heuchera growing in the shade can be watered in about a day, as soon as the topsoil dries out a little. In hot and dry weather, the bushes will have to be watered twice a day - in the morning or in the evening. Bushes growing in bright sun will also need more frequent watering. During watering, it is worth making sure that drops do not fall on the foliage. This can lead to burns. To avoid them, water is carefully poured under the very root of the bush.

Rainwater is considered optimal for irrigation of Heuchera. You can periodically add a few grains of citric acid to ordinary water for irrigation.

Top dressing

In the first year of development, Heuchera will not need fertilizers. More mature plants are fed several times over the summer. The nature of the fertilizer will depend on the specific type of heuchera. Instances with decorative leaves require formulations aimed at the beauty of the foliage, the rest of the species can be fertilized with formulations for flowering plants.

Top dressing is applied only twice a season: before and after flowering. It is important to use only half of the dosage indicated on the package. An excess of fertilizers, especially nitrogen fertilizers, can harm the plant.

Pruning

Heuchera flower stalks are usually formed at the beginning of summer, its inflorescences retain their appearance for two months or longer. If it is not necessary to collect seeds, after flowering, the peduncles should be cut off from the bushes.

Heuchera in winter

Geykhera winters well in the open field, although it needs a little shelter. Species with light leaves, as well as first-year bushes, are considered the most sensitive to cold weather.

In autumn, foliage should not be removed from heuchera, even dried up - it helps to protect the roots from freezing. You can additionally lightly cover the planting with fallen leaves, preferably oak (it does not rot longer). Humus or spruce branches are also suitable as a shelter.In spring, such protection will help prevent overdrying of plant roots in bright sunlight.

With the beginning of the new season, the shelter is removed, and the old dried leaf blades of the heuchera itself are carefully trimmed as close to the ground as possible. This is done only after the appearance of fresh growth.

Breeding methods for heuchera

Reproduction by dividing the bush

With age, the leaf rosette of Heuchera can begin to disintegrate. Its center is bare, and the roots may begin to peep outward. This means that the bush needs rejuvenation. The plant is dug up, the overgrown bush is divided into parts (each of them must have several outlets) and the divisions are planted in the selected places. Most often, this procedure is carried out in the spring, after waking up, trying to be in time before flowering, but sometimes this is done in the summer, after the bush has faded. Rhizomes can not be cut, but simply divided by hand. Before planting, the roots of the resulting seedlings should be inspected. Too long are shortened a little, and the affected areas are removed. All sections are processed with crushed coal.

Wells 30 by 30 cm in size should be prepared for the divisions. Their depth should slightly exceed the depth of the original hole. Delenki are placed at a distance of about 25 cm, watered and mulched. It usually takes about a month for such plants to take root.

Cuttings

Another way of vegetative propagation of Heuchera is cuttings. Cuttings from the bush are cut in the first half of summer. Shoots are cut off at the very ground, trying not to touch the root itself. Part of the cuttings can be formed in the process of dividing the bush. The resulting parts of the plant are divided into segments about 5 cm long and some of the leaves are removed from them. The bottom cut of each cut is moistened in a growth promoter. After that, they are planted in light peat-sandy soil and a greenhouse for the seedlings is arranged in a shady place. Planting must be aired daily, as well as monitor soil moisture. Rooting of cuttings takes 3-4 weeks.

Growing from seeds

Leaving geychera brooms for seeds, it is worth remembering that not all species have time to fully mature before the onset of frost. To be sure to get seed, you should remove the bolls as soon as they darken a little, and most of the inflorescence will fade. Such boxes are removed without opening and kept in a warm place until fully ripe. After that, the seeds are removed, dried and poured into a tight-fitting foil bag. They can be stored in the refrigerator in the vegetable compartment until sowing.

In March-April, seeds are sown. The grown seedlings are planted in open ground in late May or early June. Heuchera seeds should be grown in a light mixture to which you can add sand or perlite.

Diseases and pests

Heuchera is very resistant to pests and diseases. Usually they affect only plants weakened by improper care. Most often, Heuchera suffers from moisture stagnation at the roots, as well as due to an excess of fertilizers.

If a light bloom appears on the foliage of the plant, it is likely that the bushes are affected by powdery mildew. You can get rid of it with the help of fungicides. Treatment with Bordeaux mixture will help against rust and spotting. It is repeated at intervals of 2 weeks.

Among the main pests of Heuchera are snails, slugs, various types of caterpillars, as well as leaf nematodes. Weevils most often harm the flower. These beetles appear in the second half of summer. Landings are harmed by both adults and their larvae. In small beds, beetles can be harvested by hand, or use an insecticide.

Distilling heuchera at home

Heuchera can also be grown as a houseplant. There is nothing complicated about this, the process is no different from growing bulbs and is similar to forcing lily of the valley. In September, a biennial, well-developed heuchera plant is taken for distillation. A dug out bush is transplanted into fertile sod soil and placed in a shaded place before the onset of severe frosts. With their onset, the bush is transferred to a cool room.

You need to wait for the ground to freeze a little, and then cover it with leaves or mulch. In late December or early January, the bush is transferred to a warmer place with a constant temperature of 10-15 degrees, watered with warm water and sprayed. For about a week, Heuchera wakes up and begins to grow. After waking up, the plant should be placed in a well-lit place, for example, by a window. In March, the flower will give three to four panicles. After flowering, the plant must be planted in open ground. Remember that for forcing heuchera indoors, you need to use only plants grown from seeds.

Types and varieties of heuchera with photos and names

The genus Heuchera includes over fifty different species. In nature, they live in forests or mountains in Mexico or the United States. Because of this, all types of geyher are conventionally divided into mountain and forest. In floriculture and breeding, the following types and varieties of heuchera are most often used:

Heuchera blood-red (Heuchera sanguinea)

This species belongs to the mountain group. Heuchera sanguinea has bright green foliage and deep red flowers. One of the names of the plant is associated with them - "red bell". The rosette is made up of strong and dense rounded leaves with a serrated edge. Some varieties have light specks on green foliage. The sizes of the peduncles reach 50 cm.

Due to its high winter hardiness, this type of plant is often grown in mid-latitudes. Popular varieties include:

• Variegata - with a variegated green and white color;
• Hercules - foliage combines different shades of green, flowers - deep red;
• Monet - has green foliage with lacy white streaks. The flowers are pink.

Heuchera hairy (Heuchera villosa)

The foliage has velvety pubescence. Its petioles and peduncle shoots are also covered with small hairs. Heuchera villosa also has several showy varieties.

• Bronze Wave - has very large leaves of a bronze shade. The leaf diameter is about 20 cm.
• Rachel - the flowers, like the peduncles themselves, are painted in a light shade of pink.

Heuchera cylindrica

Another mountain species, distinguished by its large size. Heuchera cylindrica has tall (about 90 cm) thin peduncles. Because of this, the feeling is created that the inflorescences are hovering over the elegant rosette of the plant. Rounded leaves have a heart-shaped base. The main color of the leaf blade is dark green. On its background, contrasting veins or light silvery patterns may be present. The color of the inflorescences can be white, greenish, pink or coral. This type of Heuchera is often used for breeding purposes. Among the main varieties:

• Greenfinch - with pale green flowers;
• Hyperion - forms half-meter peduncles with panicles of small red-pink flowers.

Heuchera micrantha

This type of heuchera is often called the most decorative. Heuchera micrantha has maple-like leaves. They are greenish-purple in color and often have light specks. The bush forms a peduncle up to 60 cm long. Yellowish-pink flowers bloom on it. Their anthers are colored orange. Main varieties:

• Bressingham Bronze - the foliage has a bronze tint;
• Palace Purple - dark purple foliage with a metallic sheen. In 1999 this cultivar received the award as the best perennial. The flowers are creamy.

American Heuchera (Heuchera americana)

The second name of this species - "mountain geranium" - is associated with the shape of its foliage. Heuchera Americana forms a rosette about 20 cm high. From the inside, the leaf plates are brownish-purple in color. During flowering, the bush forms flower stalks about 60 cm high, small greenish-yellow flowers bloom on them.

One of the most popular varieties of such geykhera is Green Spice. The foliage of this bush is green and covered with light silvery specks. As it grows, the green color of the leaves becomes deeper, or acquires a shade of yellow.The specks grow larger over time, and the veins begin to turn purple.

Heuchera hybrid (Heuchera hybrida)

All hybrid forms of Heuchera derived from the blood-red, small-flowered and American species are united under this name. Heuchera hybrida produces flowers that resemble the panicles of blood-red heuchera, but they are larger. The height of the peduncles and the diameter of the foliage are also increased in hybrid varieties. Flowering lasts longer than usual. The palette of inflorescence shades includes coral, red, pink and white. The foliage most often has a green color and is complemented by prominent veins and small creamy specks. The main disadvantage of hybrids is that their peduncles can lodge due to strong winds or precipitation. The most famous varieties:

• Beauty Color - the leaves have a silvery center, burgundy-purple streaks and a pronounced green border. The inflorescences have a green tint.
• Kankan - with ruffled purple-silvery foliage, flowers - pale pink.
• Cappuccino - greenish foliage with a purple-brown tint, flowers - yellowish cream.
• Fruit jelly - on the outside the foliage is colored yellow-orange, and on the seamy side it is pink. The flowers are small, greenish.
• Ruby Vale - greenish-burgundy foliage with lace edges. Inflorescences are yellowish.

Gooseberry Heuchera (Heuchera grossulariifolia)

The species is highly frost-resistant. The foliage of Heuchera grossulariifolia is preserved even in severe frosts. Thanks to this resistance, the plant is appreciated by both flower growers and breeders. This species forms tall stalks with creamy flowers.