Lime Rickey coral bells

Sun

Partial shade or bright, open shade. Gentle morning sun is suitable; protect from strong afternoon sun, especially in hot climates.

Water

Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water during dry spells and check containers frequently in warm weather.

Soil

Humus-rich, well-drained soil, preferably neutral to slightly acidic. Avoid heavy, wet soil and burying the crown.

Height

0.5-1 ft (0.15-0.3 m) in leaf; 1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.45 m) in flower

Spread

1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.45 m)

Flowers

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

Foliage

Rounded, lobed, ruffled leaves emerge bright chartreuse and mature toward lime green. Evergreen in mild climates, but foliage may deteriorate or die back in severe winters.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Cold hardy
• 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

   0.7 ft (0.22 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, not buried beneath soil or mulch.
• Water at the base when the upper soil begins to dry; avoid keeping the crown constantly wet.
• Apply a thin layer of compost in spring; avoid heavy feeding.
• Mulch around the plant to conserve moisture, keeping mulch clear of the crown.
• Divide every three to four years if the centre becomes woody or the plant loses vigour.
• Check after winter frost and gently firm back any roots lifted out of the soil.

Pruning. In early spring, remove dead or badly damaged leaves without cutting into the central crown. Cut spent flower stems down to their base after flowering.

Early spring

Remove winter-damaged leaves and check for frost-heaved roots.

Spring

Plant or divide established clumps, keeping crowns at soil level.

Spring

Top-dress lightly with compost and renew mulch around, not over, the crown.

Late spring to early summer

Enjoy the white flowers, then remove spent stems if you want a tidier mound.

Summer

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

Autumn

Remove fallen debris from the crown and check that drainage remains clear.

• Edge shaded paths with repeated clumps to create a low ribbon of bright foliage.
• Pair with dark-leaved coral bells for a clear contrast in containers or small borders.
• Plant beneath deciduous shrubs alongside ferns and hostas for contrasting leaf shapes.
• Use in shaded courtyard pots where its light foliage stands out against dark paving or walls.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Cottage garden, Modern courtyard, Green on green, Small-space and Pacific Northwest woodland.

Plant it with: Hostas, Japanese painted ferns, Siberian bugloss, Hellebores, Astilbes and Dark-leaved coral bells.

Wildlife: The small flowers provide nectar and pollen for visiting insects, including bees. This cultivated hybrid is primarily a foliage plant rather than a major wildlife food source.

• Vine weevil larvae can eat the roots, causing sudden wilting or loose crowns, especially in pots. Inspect roots, remove larvae and use a locally approved biological control when soil temperatures are suitable.
• Crown and root rot develop in waterlogged soil or deeply planted crowns. Improve drainage, keep the crown exposed and discard badly rotted plants.
• Leaf scorch causes bleached or brown patches in strong sun or dry conditions. Provide afternoon shade and maintain steady soil moisture.
• Frost heaving can lift shallow roots out of the ground. Refirm plants when the soil thaws and mulch around the root zone without covering the crown.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses; no part is recognised as poisonous. It is an ornamental plant, not a food crop, and eating plant material may still cause mild stomach upset.

• Lime Marmalade coral bells (Heuchera 'Lime Marmalade')

  Also has ruffled lime foliage, but generally forms a larger, more vigorous mound with larger, more heavily ruffled leaves. Check the label when buying young plants.

• Heartleaf foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)

  Usually has greener, more pointed leaves and conspicuously fluffy spikes of white flowers; many forms spread by runners rather than remaining a compact mound.

Heuchera honours the German physician and botanist Johann Heinrich von Heucher, while coral bells refers to the bell-shaped flowers of the genus.

Propagation. Divide healthy clumps in spring, retaining roots and growing shoots on each piece. Seedlings will not reliably retain the cultivar's lime foliage and compact habit.

Accepted botanical name

Heuchera

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