Heuchera americana 'MARVELOUS MARBLE™ Silver' American coral bells
Symbivit Tric (arbuscular)
Symbivit (arbuscular)Heuchera
Heucheras – coral bells are undemanding yet striking perennials that have gained popularity thanks to their beautiful foliage and delicate flowers, sometimes appearing in rich inflorescences. They form dense clumps of leaves with a breathtaking range of colours. The genus was named after Johann Heinrich von Heucher (1677–1746), a German physician and professor. It includes around forty species of perennial plants, mostly native to North America, except for H. sichotensis from the Russian Far East. To Europe, heucheras were introduced in the 18th century. their classification can be quite challenging as in the wild, these plants often crossbreed, and their flowers change shape significantly as they mature. That’s why so many breeders are drawn to them – their variable gene pool invites experimentation, and the thrill of discovering something new at the end of a breeding attempt is simply irresistible 😊.
Heuchera americana is a North American species of coral bells native to the forests and rocky slopes of the eastern and central parts of the continent, where it grows in shallow soils over both limestone and acidic substrates and naturally tolerates partial shade and fluctuating moisture. It was formally described by Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778) in 1753 on the basis of herbarium material brought to Europe, thereby securing its place within the modern botanical system rather than marking a cultural discovery. The plant had long been well known to Indigenous peoples of North America, who used its tannin-rich roots as a medicinal remedy and practical resource, a tradition reflected in the English name American alumroot, referring to its ability to substitute alum in textile dyeing. Botanically, Heuchera americana is exceptionally variable, a fact that led in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to frequent confusion with related taxa and to prolonged taxonomic uncertainty, ultimately resulting in the recognition of several species now treated as distinct, including H. pubescens and H. caroliniana.
Marvelous Marble™ Silver is a coral bells variety with shallowly lobed, orbicular leaves which emerge purple red in spring and as the temperature rises, leaf margins reveal green colour while leaf centres remain dark maroon or almost purple red. All year round they are decorated with heavy silvery grey marbling. They are evergreen. From early till late summer sporadically appear thin stems with inconspicuous white flowers. They can be cut off if only beautiful foliage is what you desire. The plant shows exceptional vigour and forms low mounds.
American coral bells is one of the species used amply for further breeding because of its ability to form attractive marbling and conspicuous veins. It naturally occurs from central to southern North America. Marvelous Marble™ is a series invented by the breeders at Syngenta Flowers and registered in 2009.
Coral bells can take almost any soil with ample moisture and good drainage. They do best in partial shade or filtered sun, however, if you make sure they will not dry out you can place them in full sun, too. They can also live in dark shade where their colours will not be too rich, such location is usually best for light coloured varieties. Cut off all leaves in early spring to encourage growth of new foliage. Fully hardy to abt. -34°C (USDA zone 4), and suitable for outdoor pots.
Last update 02-01-2021
