Heuchera sanguinea
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Heuchera pulchra
- Heuchera sanguinea var. pulchra
- Phonetic Spelling
- HEW-ker-ah san-GWIN-ee-ah
- Description
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Coral bells is an erect, clump-forming herbaceous perennial in the saxifrage family (Saxifragaceae) native to Arizona, New Mexico and northern Mexico. The species epithet is Latin for 'blood red' and refers to the color of the flowers.
Plant it in the full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil with high organic content. It is intolerant of clay soils. Water it well during dry periods and remove spent flower stalks to encourage flowering.
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.
Use this plant for edging, along border fronts, or massing as ground cover. It also works well as an accent in a shady part of the landscape. Use it in a cottage garden, shade garden, winter garden, rock garden or children's garden.
Quick ID Hints:
- Acaulescent herb with heart- to kidney-shaped leaves
- Tall scapes with small, red, bell-shaped flowers
- Inflorescences slender, branched, narrow and overtopping the leaves
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Mealybug, 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:
- Herbaceous 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:
- 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, ¼ to ¾ of an inch long, lobes minute.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Orbicular
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- 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, obtuse, cordate, shallowly 5-lobed, dentate, 1 to 2 inches wide; primary veins palmate; petiole elongate, peltate, glandular-pubescent, 1½ to 5 inches 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
