Heuchera 'SOUTHERN COMFORT' coral bells
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 😊.
Southern Comfort coral bells is a true gem. It produces multicoloured mounds of rounded, shallowly lobed leaves which are the biggest among all orange-coloured varieties: 16-17 cm across. They are in shades of amber, orange, burnished copper, and cinnamon peach. They are evergreen.
Small, white flowers are composed in erect panicles atop 50-60 cm tall, dark orange stems from midsummer until early autumn. They can be cut off if only beautiful foliage is what you desire. The plant shows exceptional vigour and forms low mounds. It was bred by Janet Egger from Terra Nova® Nurseries in Oregon, USA, and patented as PP20364 (USA) and EU23399 (Europe) 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
