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Heuchera sanguinea is often confused with:
Astilbe x arendsii Flowers
Heuchera villosa Form
Pelargonium x hybridum flowers
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Coreopsis lanceolata flowers and leaves
Coreopsis verticillata Coreopsis verticillata
Salvia rosmarinus Rosmarinus officinalis

Coral Bells Heuchera sanguinea

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Coral Bells:

Previously known as:

  • Heuchera sanguinea var. pulchra
  • Heuchera sanguinea var. sanguinea
Phonetic Spelling
HEW-ker-ah san-GWIN-ee-ah
Description

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:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#pink flowers#red flowers#nectar plant#rabbit resistant#mass planting#specialized bees#well-drained soil#summer flowers#deer resistant#spring interest#pollinator plant#clumping#fantz#border front#nectar plant late spring#nectar plant early summer#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#perennial#wildlife friendly
 
form, flowers and leaves
form, flowers and leaves Patrick Standish CC BY 2.0
Heuchera sanguinea
Heuchera sanguinea Badthings CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#pink flowers#red flowers#nectar plant#rabbit resistant#mass planting#specialized bees#well-drained soil#summer flowers#deer resistant#spring interest#pollinator plant#clumping#fantz#border front#nectar plant late spring#nectar plant early summer#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#perennial#wildlife friendly
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • 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