Sweet Tea foamy bells

Sun

Partial shade, preferably with morning sun and afternoon shade. More sun is possible in cool climates if the soil stays moist; avoid strong afternoon sun in hot regions.

Water

Keep evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water during dry spells, especially in containers and during the first growing season.

Soil

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

Height

1.5-2 ft (0.45-0.6 m), including flower stems

Spread

2-2.5 ft (0.6-0.75 m)

Flowers

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

Foliage

Evergreen. Large, rounded, deeply lobed leaves with orange to copper colouring and dark reddish-brown veins. Colour changes with temperature, light and leaf age, often becoming darker in summer and brighter in cooler weather.

Growth

Moderate; usually forms a substantial clump within two to three growing seasons.

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

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.2 ft (0.37 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.5 ft (0.45 m)

4. After 3 years

   1.7 ft (0.53 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 rather than buried.
• Water at soil level when the surface begins to dry; do not leave pots standing in water.
• Apply a thin layer of compost in spring, keeping it clear of the crown.
• Mulch around the clump to conserve moisture without covering its centre.
• Check for frost-heaved crowns after winter and gently firm or replant them.
• Divide ageing clumps in spring if the centres become woody or growth weakens.

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

Early spring

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

Spring

Plant or divide clumps, water thoroughly and add a thin compost mulch.

Late spring

Check new growth for slug damage and inspect container plants for vine weevil.

Summer

Water during dry spells and remove faded flower stems.

Autumn

Remove fallen debris from the crown, but retain healthy foliage.

Winter

Keep containers freely drained and shelter them from persistent winter rain.

• Edge partly shaded paths with repeated clumps for a continuous band of warm foliage colour.
• Plant beneath deciduous shrubs where it receives spring light and summer shade.
• Contrast its copper leaves with blue-green hostas, fine-textured ferns or dark green hellebores.
• Use in shaded patio containers with sedges and other moisture-loving foliage plants.

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

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

Wildlife: The small flowers can attract bees and other small pollinating insects. Its main garden value is foliage rather than a long flowering season.

• Vine weevil larvae can eat roots and cause sudden wilting or loose crowns, particularly in pots. Inspect roots and use an appropriate biological nematode treatment when soil temperatures suit the product.
• Slugs and snails may chew young leaves. Check after dark, remove pests and use barriers or locally approved controls where needed.
• Crown and root rot can develop in waterlogged soil. Improve drainage, keep mulch away from the crown and discard badly rotted plants.
• Leaf scorch and crispy margins usually follow hot sun or drought. Provide afternoon shade and more consistent moisture.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. No particular part is recognised as poisonous, although specific toxicity data for this cultivar are limited; it is not an edible plant.

• Coral bells (Heuchera spp.)

  Many cultivars have similar copper foliage, but their leaves are often less deeply lobed and their flowers more distinctly bell-shaped. Cultivar labels are the safest guide.

• Heartleaf foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)

  Usually has green, heart-shaped leaves, sometimes with dark central markings, rather than broad areas of orange-copper colour; its flower spikes have a particularly frothy appearance.

Heucherella combines the names of its parent genera, Heuchera and Tiarella, while foamy bells combines their common names, foamflower and coral bells.

Propagation. Divide healthy clumps in spring, retaining roots and growing points on each section. This hybrid does not reliably produce viable seed, and seed would not preserve the cultivar. Check local plant breeders' rights or patent restrictions before propagating.

Accepted botanical name

Heucherella

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