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Heuchera 'Ifhemul' INDIAN SUMMER MULBERRY coral bells
Heuchera
Heucheras – coral bells – are low-maintenance yet striking perennials that have gained popularity for their beautiful foliage and delicate flowers, sometimes appearing in abundant inflorescences. They form dense clumps of leaves, boasting an astonishing range of colors. The botanical genus Heuchera was named after Johann Heinrich von Heucher (1677–1746), a German physician and professor. There are approximately 37 species but classifying them is quite tricky – plants hybridize freely, and their flowers significantly change shape as they mature. No wonder so many breeders are fascinated by them - it’s simply thrilling to experiment with their dynamic gene pool and eagerly await to see what new marvel appears at the end of each attempt. 😊
Jelle van den Haak from the Netherlands is one of those enthusiastic breeders who has fallen in love not only with heucheras but also with many other perennials. He is the almighty guru who has developed the utterly awesome Sunseekers series of echinaceas, which feature absolutely stunning colors. He follows a similar approach with his Indian Summer series of heucheras, naming newly acquired varieties after different edible berries or anything fruit-related that their leaf colours resemble. So far, the lineup includes Mulberry, Orangeberry, Huckleberry, Gojiberry, Boysenberry, Coralberry, Cherryberry, Splashberry, and Greenberry. So now what, wanna try one?
MULBERRY is a heuchera from the Indian Summer series, and its name refers to the mulberry fruit. Do you know it? It’s deep purple to almost black, but when you crush it, it bursts with a rich purple-red, sweet juice—just like the color of this stunning plant’s leaves. The foliage is intense purple, with deep maroon to black veining and a pinkish purple underside. The leaves are palmate, shallowly lobed, slightly wavy, highly glossy, and semi-evergreen, enduring mild winters without damage, making them a standout in the garden even deep into winter. It grows at a moderate pace, forming a compact, sturdy clump and spreading into lush cushions of dense foliage. From late spring until mid-summer small, less conspicuous flowers appear atop thin stems. This variety is protected under patents 58123 (EU – 2021) and PP32045 (USA – 2020).
Coral bells are hardy perennials, mainly used as ground covers, however, they are excellent companions to plants with other textures, especially when mass planted. They prefer lightly shaded locations and evenly moist, nutrient-rich soil—soil pH does not matter. With occasional watering, they can tolerate full sun, except for light-colored varieties, unless specifically bred for sun exposure. They can even grow in shade, though their colors will be less vivid. In early spring, simply trim all leaves, allowing fresh new foliage to emerge. Fertilization is not required but significantly enhances their appearance and vigour. They are hardy to approximately -34 °C (USDA zone 4) and can be grown in outdoor containers as well.
Last update 30-05-2025
