Alum Root

Heuchera rosada

Rosy coral bells in June 2006. Photo: SK Reid.

Summary

Rosada coral bells is an evergreen herbaceous perennial introduced by the University of California Davis Arboretum and is part of their Arboretum All-Stars collection. With scalloped leaves arising from a basal rosette, they produce masses of pink flowers on long stalks for several months in spring through early summer. These were evaluated in our first trial in full sun before the construction of our shade structure, and their performance was affected by this. All plants in full sun showed edge die-back of the foliage and a reduction in size during their second summer on reduced irrigation beginning in July. There was no significant difference in growth between treatments.

Despite being in full sun during their establishment year, the ample irrigation for establishment, combined with winter rains produced lovely full plants with a spectacular display of pink blooms for several months beginning in spring 2007. We credit this extremely profuse bloom with having winter sun to bulk up the plants. Because of this, for best bloom we recommend planting sites with morning sun and afternoon shade or the dappled shade under winter deciduous trees.

During the course of our early trials, we also planted these in six counties¹ in seven UC Master Gardener demonstration gardens where it received very high ratings in all but the hottest inland San Diego site where it was grown with afternoon sun, but even there its appearance was acceptable.

¹Alameda, Fresno, Madera, Nevada, Santa Clara, San Diego (inland and coastal)

Growth and Quality Data

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