Heucherella varieties and their placement in the garden
Most of the modern novelties of Heucherella are valued not so much for the flowering, but for the highly decorative foliage, the exquisite palette of which delights even pampered collectors. Moreover, many of them strive to collect as complete a collection of hybrids as possible, the number of which is still relatively small, and therefore it is not difficult for persistent collectors to satisfy a permanent superiority complex.
However, I would not advise you to collect any Heucherella in your garden. Not all hybrids can stand our climatic conditions with dignity. So, for example, the variety ‘Pink Whispers’ and ‘Strikeit Rich Gold’ (commercial name ‘Gold Strike’) in my collection earned the status of “caprice”. In some seasons, I have to take care of them and spend a lot of time to make them look decent in the flower garden.
However, I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the flower growers argued with me about this. Some varieties of Heucherella, as well as Heuchera, can behave differently in different gardens. In one place, such hybrids will thrive successfully without any care and care, and in another-constantly keep an enthusiastic collector in concern for the well-being and health of the hereditary shrew. I hope that in the future, breeders will take into account the wishes of collectors of more severe climatic zones, and new products of Heucherella will not only be exceptionally beautiful, but also extremely hardy in any growing conditions.
And yet the most unpretentious and easy-going favorites among the Heucherella in my garden. Even the yellow-leaved hybrids won me over instantly and made me forget about the disappointments in some slightly hardy Heuchera with amber coloring. The famous and popular “golden couple” ‘Sunspot’ and ‘Stoplight’ delight me every year with excellent wintering, after which last year’s ochre foliage looks surprisingly fresh and attractive.
In summer, these hybrids even in a shady flower garden look like a scattering of gold coins with a noble patina of red-brown pattern on the leaves. And the recent acquisition of Heucherella ‘Alabama Sunrise’ with the same sunny foliage colors also lifts the mood and gives hope that worthy contrasting partners to blue hosts and purple Heuchera will be added to my picturesque flower beds.
I just want to warn you that the best place to plant yellow-leaved hybrids is a semi-shady place with morning sun. In sunny flower beds, the delicate ochre foliage burns, and in deep shade — turns green. In a hot open place, many Heucherella will feel uncomfortable. For a more comfortable stay, they need at least a light openwork shading in the midday hours and constantly moderately moist soils.
It is in such conditions that I grow a popular hybrid ‘Kimono’, which not only the shape of the foliage, but also the neat habit of the bush really resembles a traditional Japanese outfit.
Moreover, this Heucherella does not differ in abundant flowering and bright foliage colors, but thanks to its docile nature, many plants in flower beds are ready to make friends with it. For example, the moisture-loving variegated marsh iris is happy to wrap its lanky “figure” in ‘Kimono’.
The same unpretentiousness is famous for two popular hybrids similar to each other — ‘Burnt Bronze’ and ‘Chocolate Lace’ with filigree cut shiny foliage the color of ripe chestnut.
In summer, when in bloom, these varieties are touched by their proud posture of snow-white fluffy flower stalks against a background of polished bronze. Only in late autumn is the varietal difference of these cultivars noticeable. In ‘Chocolate Lace’, the foliage is noticeably green, and ‘Burnt Bronze’, on the contrary, acquires a rich buttery color of melted dark chocolate.
In order to make these dark — leaved varieties look even more expressive, I plant next to them plants with silver and variegated foliage-Pulmonaria, Polypodiophyta, Hosta, Brunnera and variegated varieties of various other garden plants.
Varieties with pink inflorescences are especially loved by flower growers, they bring a romantic mood and are desirable in any flower garden. At the beginning of summer, even one Heucherella will enliven the boring company of plants that are just preparing for a lush bloom and hide the secret of their bright summer in still green elastic buds.
For example, ‘Viking Ship’ with carved leaves of banal light green colors, but with a fountain of lacy salmon-pink snowflakes harmoniously fit into my collection of miniature hostas and astilbas. In early summer, this baby continues the “idea” of continuous flowering after “celebrating” spring in the flower garden small bulbous plants.
The same role on the garden stage is played by one of the oldest hybrids — ‘Bridget Bloom’, 1955 introduction. This Heucherella was named by the famous breeder A. Bloom in honor of his daughter and is still in constant demand among flower growers. The shrub of this variety is very compact, with small foliage similar to ivy leaves. But the numerous peduncles are much higher than those of other varieties, and a spray of strawberry-colored flowers with cream glaze foam abundantly and gently cover the June greens of neighboring plants.
The relatively rare variety ‘Rosalie’, also related to the beautifully blooming Heucherella, has a neat shrub with maple-shaped leaves that are painted with a copper-brown pattern along the central veins. This hybrid is considered by Western experts to be capricious and complain that it is susceptible to the disease of false powdery mildew. Fortunately, in my garden, ‘Rosalie’ has been leading a healthy lifestyle for several years, and so far there have been no signs of this disease on the plant.
The golden carpet of lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’ serves as a good backdrop for ’Rosalie’ especially during the flowering period. From time to time, it is necessary to restrain the creeping nature of the aggressor and limit its growth by elementary pruning of excess shoots.
In my collection there are two Heucherella with silver foliage and similar names – ‘Quicksilver’ and ‘Silver Streak’. The first one grows in a dense bush and looks very similar to Heuchera: the same shiny, characteristic lobed leaves with a silvery pattern between the coffee-colored veins. Only during the flowering period can you understand that this is Heucherella — low peduncles with fluffy snowflake flowers give out its relationship with Tiarella.
‘Silver Streak’ has similar leaves, but they are matte and velvety to the touch. But the main unique feature of this Heucherella is that it is able to produce stolons with rosettes of young plants. Of course, the hybrid inherited this feature from Tiarella with the same qualities of a”creeping aggressor”.
Heucherella is becoming more and more popular every year, and new varieties that appear on the flower market are striking with their bright and charming outfit. Here are a few names of delicious new products that I have added to my list of annual wishes:
- ‘Golden Zebra’;
- ‘Sweet Tea’;
- ‘Brass Lantern’;
- ‘Gunsmoke’;
- ‘Tapestry’;
- ‘Solar Power’.
I am sure that they will definitely attract the attention of fellow collectors and ordinary amateur gardeners who are passionate about decorative plants for the most exquisite flower beds in their garden.