Heucherella is a plant bred specifically for landscape design. The first such hybrid was created in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century. This perennial from the saxifrage family is the fruit of a cross between heuchera and tiarella. From the first he took similar inflorescences, from the second - the compact size and shape of the leaves. Due to its decorative properties and peculiarities of cultivation, Heycherella is loved by both designers and gardeners. It is often used in flower arrangements in parks and gardens. This flower is found both on the banks of garden ponds, and as bordering borders, decorating flower beds, rockeries and rock gardens.
Heycherella is undemanding to the level of illumination, does not require special care measures, is sufficiently drought-resistant, and can withstand severe frost during snowy winters. In addition, the flower is responsive to feeding, and its beautiful leaves retain their decorative effect until deep frost.
Description of Heykherella
Heycherella can be grown both in the open field and in large garden pots. Its thick roots are located close to the soil surface. The plant is distinguished by flexible pinkish shoots that form a spherical bush, and not only airy inflorescences, panicles, but also elegant carved leaves give it beauty.
The petioles and the underside of the foliage of this flower are covered with thick fluff. In shape, its dissected leaves are a bit like maple leaves, but have softer outlines. For the winter, they do not dry out, continuing to remain fresh under the snow. Coloring directly depends on the variety. There are varieties with variegated multi-colored leaves or a predominance of one leading shade: yellow, green or purple.
The average height of Heykherella is about half a meter, but in summer, thanks to the peduncles, the bush may seem a little higher. The flowering period lasts from July to August.
Planting Heycherella in open ground
The hybrid combines the best qualities of the unpretentious and shade-tolerant mountain beauties of tiarella and heuchera. Moreover, it is considered even more frost-resistant. With good shelter and snow cover, Heycherells are not afraid of cold temperatures down to -40 degrees. Many properties of their "parents" were transferred to this plant. Like Heuchera, it prefers neutral or slightly alkaline soil, and also does not like waterlogging. A sandy or clayey area is best suited for cultivation.
Despite the general unpretentiousness to the degree of lighting, it is recommended to choose a place for planting heycherella based on its variety. Plants with dark leaves usually prefer shady corners (in the sun their colors may fade), with light ones - moderately sunny. A place with a diffused, lacy shadow can be considered universal. It is important that rainwater does not accumulate or stagnate in it.
When growing heycherella in mid-latitudes, dolomite flour is added to the soil prepared for planting. To ensure the removal of excess moisture from the roots, a small layer of drainage (up to 5 cm thick) is poured into each of the planting holes. Wood ash can also be added there - it will serve as fertilizer for the seedling. After the heycherella is lowered into the hole, you should fill the remaining space with fertile soil, but try to leave the central kidney open. Geyherella does not require a large distance between the bushes, but no more than 12 bushes should be planted per 1 square meter.
Heycherella care rules
Geyherella is so undemanding to care for that even a novice gardener can grow it. You can water the plant lightly on a regular basis (this contributes to the abundance of flowering), but the main thing is to do it during long dry periods. In this case, a strong overflow is considered harmful to the plant.
Top dressing is usually required only for young specimens: they are fertilized with nitrogen-containing preparations. But it is important not to overdo it with them: the growth of the green mass can adversely affect the winter hardiness of the plant. You can fertilize the flower in the spring, at the beginning of the season, and in the summer, after flowering. It is good if phosphorus is present in the preparations. Organic additives are applied in minimal quantities - their excess will harm the flower.
Due to the fact that the roots of Heycherella do not go deep underground, at times they can become bare. This should be monitored, periodically sprinkling the area around the bush with a mixture of sand and humus.
Some varieties of Heycherella are resistant to severe frosts, but some hybrids can still freeze slightly. To be sure of the survival of plants, it is still recommended to cover them for the winter. Hilling and mulching are also suitable, helping to cover the upper part of the root. As it grows, it lifts the ground and becomes bare. Heycherell can be closed for another reason. If the plantings are located in a sunny place, after the spring melting of snow, the evergreen foliage of the plants will begin to evaporate moisture, depleting the dormant roots. Dry weather during this period can destroy plantings faster than cold weather. A shelter can protect flowers. It should be removed gradually, on a cloudy day. The only exceptions are dense covering materials: with the onset of warmth, the flower will need airing, but it is impossible to drastically deprive it of its shade. After the final removal of the shelter, you can additionally water the bushes with warm water to activate the vital activity of the roots.
After wintering, the bushes must be cleaned of old dried foliage. In order for them to retain their elegant appearance, division and transplantation procedures need to be carried out every few years. This is usually done every 3-4 years.
Breeding methods for heykherella
Due to its hybrid origin, it will not work to grow Heycherella from seeds: after flowering, fruits on it, as a rule, do not form. Such a plant can only be propagated by cuttings or dividing the bush.
Dividing the bush
Division helps not only to get new heycherell bushes, but also to make them more attractive. Over time, old plantings begin to stretch out strongly, and their tops dry out.
In springtime, it is better not to disturb the flower. Transplantation and subsequent division are carried out in July-August. By this time, Heycherella will have already faded and will begin to grow the root mass. If you transplant them during this period, they will have time to take root in a new place before frost.
The bush extracted from the ground is washed, cleaned of old dried parts and shoots, and divided into parts so that for each there is at least one healthy kidney. The resulting cuttings can be seated at a distance of 20-30 cm from each other. Small ones can be pre-grown by first placing them in pots or containers, and only then planted in open ground. Watering such seedlings is necessary at least a couple of times a week.
If the plant just needs rejuvenation, you can not divide the dug out bush, but only remove the lateral growth from it.
Cuttings
For cuttings, young rosette shoots that grow in spring are chosen. The optimal time for cutting them is from the beginning of April to May.
Ready cuttings are placed in a jar of water; for faster root formation, you can add a stimulating drug to it, for example, Kornevin. The roots of such shoots grow back within a month. After that, they must be planted in pots with fertile soil. The rooting process is faster in the shade.
Such seedlings are transferred to open ground when they begin to actively develop and grow new leaves. Cuttings are taken very quickly. By the end of summer, they can catch up with adult plants in size. If the planting of grown cuttings in the garden fell on the fall, you should thoroughly insulate the plantings before the onset of cold weather. They are covered with straw, foliage or spruce branches. Covering material can also be used.
Heycherella diseases and pests
Plant diseases
Heycherella is very resistant to many diseases, but sometimes it is affected by powdery mildew or brown spot. The reason may be stagnation of water in the roots or proximity to a diseased specimen.
Powdery mildew can be recognized by the whitish formations on the foliage. A suitable fungidid will help in the fight against it.
Brown spot appears as brown spots. Most often, the disease is caused by too much rainfall in the summer. In this case, the earth does not have time to dry out properly. Spraying with preparations containing copper will help to save the plant.
Too bright sun can cause burns on the leaves of Heycherella. During such periods, you need to water the bushes more often. This is done early in the morning or in the evening after sunset. If burns occur too often, plants can be transplanted into a safer partial shade by fall.
Pests
Slugs can damage the leaf blades of a plant, leaving round holes and whitish streaks on them. You can get rid of them by trying not to let them near the flowers. To do this, in the morning or evening, hydrated lime or crushed eggshells are scattered near the bushes. Specialized insecticides are also acceptable.
Another possible pest is the furrowed weevil. These insects cause the top of the bushes to dry out. To scare them away, next to the plantings, sawdust soaked in creolin is scattered (for the solution, 1 tbsp.spoon in half a bucket is required). Another method of dealing with weevils: spraying with a solution of mustard powder (1 tablespoon per liter of water).
Types and varieties of heykherella with photos
The species and varieties of Heykherella differ in color and leaf size. Their palette of colors includes red, purple and green, as well as other shades. Panicle-like inflorescences are usually colored white, yellow or pink and consist of small bell-shaped flowers. Among the most famous varieties:
Bridget Bloom
Bright green leaves and pink inflorescences. The size of the peduncles reaches 45 cm.
Mint frost
Light green foliage with a silvery effect.
Buttered rum
Miniature variety, the size of the bush does not exceed 20 cm in height and 30 in width. Grows best in moderate shade under large trees. In spring and summer, the foliage is colored golden orange, in autumn it becomes burgundy.
This variety is often used for border plantings, as well as for filling rockeries. Looks good in combination with other varieties of heycherella, as well as hosta and geraniums.
Honey rose
A short, red-leaved shrub that goes well with green plants. The bright color of the foliage is complemented by coral stems and light pink inflorescences.
Solar Eclipse (Solar Eclipse)
The unusual name is associated with the color of the leaves. The main part of the leaf has a rich burgundy color, but at the same time has a light green edge.
Rosalie
The height of the bush is about 45 cm.In spring, the leaves are painted in a yellowish-green hue, by the end of summer, the main color changes to a rich green, and the veins turn brown. The flowers are coral in color.
Hopscotch
Large carved leaves of this variety are painted in different colors depending on the conditions outside. The warmer the weather, the more shades of green and yellow prevail in them. Purple and red tones correspond to coolness. The flowers of the variety are white, located on thin peduncles up to 30 cm tall. The flowering period lasts from the second half of May to the end of July.
Golden Zebra (Golden Zebra)
Red-orange leaves with a yellow-green border adorn a medium-sized bush. The flowers are white, the inflorescences are of medium height.
Stoplight (Traffic light)
Broad bright green leaves are decorated with reddish veins. This variety blooms white. It looks most effective against the background of burgundy foliage or open ground with brown dumping. The height of the bush during the flowering period is up to 65 cm.
Brass Lantern
Red-orange foliage with a center and clear brown veins.
Tapestri (Tapestry)
Bright, heavily dissected foliage of blue-green color with dark brown veins is complemented by pale pink panicles of inflorescences. The bush of this variety is miniature, it reaches a height of only 25 cm.
The number of Heykherella varieties is constantly growing. Other popular and well-established varieties of the plant include "Kimono" with pinkish inflorescences and burgundy veins on green leaves, "Quick Silver" with silvery-white flowers and brown foliage. The large-leaved Sweet Tee in warm red-orange tones can serve as an excellent ground cover that drowns out weeds. Also noteworthy are "RedStoneFalls" with brown-orange leaves and a dark green border, "Alabama Sunrise" with yellow foliage, complemented by brown and framed with bright green, "Twilight", characterized by dark leaves with a silvery bloom.
