Marmalade coral bells

Sun

Partial shade, ideally morning sun and afternoon shade. More sun is possible in cool climates with adequate moisture; hot afternoon sun can scorch the leaves.

Water

Keep evenly moist while establishing. Once established, water when the upper soil begins to dry; avoid both prolonged drought and waterlogged roots.

Soil

Humus-rich, well-drained soil, from slightly acidic to neutral. Improve heavy soil drainage before planting.

Height

0.75-1 ft (0.23-0.3 m) in leaf; flower stems to about 1.5 ft (0.45 m)

Spread

1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.45 m)

Flowers

Small reddish-brown flowers on slender stems in late spring and early summer; grown mainly for its foliage.

Foliage

Evergreen. Rounded, lobed and strongly ruffled leaves in amber, peach, copper and russet tones, with pinkish-purple undersides. Colour changes with season and light.

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

   0.9 ft (0.27 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 compost.
• Water during dry spells, especially in containers, without leaving the roots standing in water.
• Apply a thin layer of compost in spring; avoid heavy feeding.
• Mulch around the clump to conserve moisture, keeping mulch clear of the crown.
• Divide every three to four years if the centre becomes woody or the crown rises above the soil.

Pruning. In early spring, remove dead or winter-damaged leaves without cutting into the crown. Cut spent flower stems back to the base after flowering.

Early spring

Remove damaged leaves and check for crowns lifted by frost; gently firm sound plants back into the soil.

Spring

Plant or divide established clumps, keeping crowns at soil level, and add a thin compost mulch.

Late spring

Check container plants for vine weevil damage if they wilt despite moist soil.

Summer

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

After flowering

Remove faded flower stems if you prefer a tidy foliage display.

Late autumn

Clear fallen debris from the crown and check that pots and beds drain freely before winter.

• Edge a lightly shaded path with repeated clumps for a low ribbon of warm foliage.
• Combine with blue-leaved hostas and green ferns for contrasting colour and leaf texture.
• Use in containers with small sedges and shade-tolerant flowering plants, ensuring good drainage.
• Plant near dark-leaved coral bells or purple foliage for a strong copper-and-purple contrast.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Cottage garden, Modern courtyard, Small-space, Autumn colour and Winter interest.

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

Wildlife: The small flowers can provide nectar and pollen for visiting bees. Its main garden value is foliage rather than a large floral food supply.

• Vine weevil: larvae eat roots and can leave the crown loose. Inspect affected plants, remove larvae and use an appropriate biological nematode treatment when soil temperatures suit the product.
• Crown or root rot: wet soil and buried crowns cause collapse. Improve drainage, keep the crown exposed and discard badly rotted plants.
• Leaf scorch: strong sun and dry roots cause bleached or crispy patches. Provide afternoon shade and water consistently.
• Frost heave and woody, raised crowns: firm lifted plants back into the soil in spring, or divide and replant healthy sections at the correct depth.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people; no parts are recognized as poisonous. It is not an edible plant, and eating plant material may still cause mild stomach upset.

• Caramel coral bells (Heuchera 'Caramel')

  Usually has broader, softer-looking apricot to caramel leaves with less strongly ruffled margins. Colour overlaps, so a reliable label is useful.

• Sweet Tea foamy bells (× Heucherella 'Sweet Tea')

  Has more pointed, deeply cut leaf lobes and conspicuous dark reddish-brown markings around the veins, rather than the more evenly coloured, rounded leaves of 'Marmalade'.

Heuchera honours the German physician and botanist Johann Heinrich von Heucher, while 'Marmalade' refers to the cultivar's orange-toned foliage.

Propagation. Divide healthy clumps in spring, keeping roots and growing shoots on each section. Seedlings will not reliably retain the colour and form of 'Marmalade'.

Accepted botanical name

Heuchera

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