Heuchera sanguinea
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Heuchera sanguinea var. pulchra
- Heuchera sanguinea var. sanguinea
- Phonetic Spelling
- HEW-ker-ah san-GWIN-ee-ah
- Description
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Coral bells is an erect, clump-forming perennial in the Saxifragaceae family. The genus name Heuchera is in honor of the 18th-century German physician, botanist, and medicinal plant expert Johann Heinrich von Heucher. Sanguinea means 'blood red' and refers to the color of the flowers.
This plant is appreciated for its interesting green, heart-shaped or roundish leaves, and its upright panicles of tiny bright pink to red flowers which appear in late spring and last through early summer. The flowers are a nectar source for bees and hummingbirds. Plant it in the full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil with high organic content. It is intolerant clay soils. Water it well during dry periods and remove spent flower stalks to encourage flowering. Use this plant for edging, along border fronts, or massing as ground cover.
Heuchera sanguinea var. pulchra is a dwarf subspecies, only 8" tall, that grows with fuschia-pink flowers in the mountains of Arizona. It will grow in full sun but does best in dappled shade with well-drained soil.
Learn more about Heuchera spp.
Quick ID Hints:
- Acaulescent herb with kidney-shaped, peltatre leaves
- Tall scapes with small bell-shaped flowers
- Inflorescences slender branched, narrow, well overtopping leaves
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Mealy bug, strawberry root weevil, and root rot are the main problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Heuchera
- Species:
- sanguinea
- Family:
- Saxifragaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- It has been used medicinally to shrink tissues in nose bleeds, sore throats, ulcers and piles by Native Peoples due to its astringent qualities.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southwestern United States
- Distribution:
- cliffs, hills and alpine areas in New Mexico, Arizona, and northern Mexico
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the genus Heuchera support the following specialized bee: Colletes aestivalis. Nectar in the flowers support hummingbirds. Tannins in the foliage makes this plant unappetizing to deer and rabbits.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 7 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- A narrow racemose panicle of small cymes well over-topping leaves; one main elongated, erect, tall axis; lateral branches short, several-flowered; bracts red. Small, bright red, pink or white; sepals ovate-deltoid; corolla campanulate, 1/4-3/4" long, lobes minute.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Orbicular
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 5-7 slightly toothed, triangular pointed lobes. Basal rosette reniform to broadly ovate-orbicular, abtuse, cordate, shallowly 5-lobed, dentate, 1-2" broad; primary veins palmate; petiole elongate, peltate, glandular-pubescen, 1.5-5" long.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Slope/Bank
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Rabbits
