Georgia Peach coral bells

Sun

Partial shade, preferably morning sun and afternoon shade. More sun is possible in cool climates with consistent moisture; avoid strong afternoon sun in hot regions.

Water

Keep evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water established plants during dry spells, and check containers frequently in warm weather.

Soil

Humus-rich, well-drained soil, from slightly acidic to neutral. Avoid heavy, persistently wet soil, especially in winter.

Height

1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.45 m) in leaf; up to 2.5 ft (0.75 m) in flower

Spread

1.5-2 ft (0.45-0.6 m)

Flowers

Small creamy-white flowers on slender stems in late spring and summer.

Foliage

Evergreen. Large, rounded, lobed leaves emerge peach-orange to pink, with a silvery overlay and darker veins, then deepen to rose and purple. Colour varies with season, light and temperature.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Cold hardy
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.1 ft (0.32 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.1 ft (0.35 m)

4. After 3 years

   1.2 ft (0.38 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant with the crown at soil level; do not bury the centre of the clump.
• Water at soil level when the upper soil begins to dry, especially during the first growing season.
• Apply a thin layer of compost in spring; avoid heavy feeding.
• Mulch around the roots, keeping mulch clear of the crown.
• Divide ageing clumps in spring every three or four years if they become woody, raised or sparse.
• Check after winter frosts and gently firm any frost-lifted plants back into the soil.

Pruning. In early spring, remove dead or badly damaged leaves without cutting through the central growing points. Cut spent flower stems back to the base after flowering.

Early spring

Remove winter-damaged foliage and check for frost-heaved crowns.

Spring

Plant or divide clumps, water thoroughly and top-dress lightly with compost.

Late spring

Check new growth for slug damage and container roots for vine weevil larvae if plants wilt unexpectedly.

Summer

Water during dry spells and protect foliage from strong afternoon sun.

Late summer

Remove spent flower stems and continue watering container plants as needed.

Late autumn

Clear fallen debris from the crown and make sure pots and beds drain freely; leave healthy foliage in place.

• Edge a partly shaded path with repeated clumps for a low ribbon of peach and rose foliage.
• Combine with blue-leaved hostas and green ferns for contrasting leaf colour and texture.
• Use in containers with sedges and spring bulbs, allowing room for the mature clump.
• Plant beneath lightly shading deciduous shrubs where its foliage brightens the foreground.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Cottage garden, English country, Modern courtyard, Small-space and Pastel border.

Plant it with: Hostas, Japanese painted fern, Siberian bugloss, Japanese forest grass, Hellebores and Snowdrops.

Wildlife: The small flowers offer nectar and pollen to visiting insects, including bees. It is primarily a foliage plant rather than a major wildlife resource.

• Vine weevil larvae can eat roots and cause sudden collapse, particularly in pots. Inspect roots and use a locally approved biological nematode treatment when soil temperatures are suitable.
• Crown and root rot develop in waterlogged soil. Improve drainage, keep the crown exposed and discard badly rotted plants.
• Leaf scorch causes dry, brown patches in hot sun or drought. Provide afternoon shade and maintain even soil moisture.
• Frost heaving and ageing woody stems can leave roots exposed. Firm lifted plants back in and divide or replant ageing clumps in spring.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. No part is recognised as poisonous, but it is not a food plant and eating it may cause mild stomach upset.

• Caramel coral bells (Heuchera 'Caramel')

  Usually has more amber-apricot foliage, with less of the conspicuous silvery veil seen on 'Georgia Peach'. Growing conditions can make their colours overlap.

• Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)

  Typically has green, more pointed or sharply lobed leaves and dense, foamy spikes of white flowers rather than peach-silver foliage and airy flower stems.

Heuchera honours the German physician and botanist Johann Heinrich von Heucher, while 'Georgia Peach' refers to the cultivar's peach-coloured foliage.

Propagation. Divide healthy clumps in spring, retaining roots and growing points on each section. Seedlings will not reliably match the named cultivar; check any local plant breeders' rights restrictions before propagating.

Accepted botanical name

Heuchera

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.