Maple-leaved Alumroot Heuchera villosa
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Heuchera villosa var. macrorhiza
- Heuchera villosa var. villosa
- Phonetic Spelling
- HEW-ker-ah vil-OH-suh
- Description
-
Heuchera villosa is a low mounding evergreen wildflower, found in moist rich woods, rocky wooded slopes, ledges, and cliffs. They grow best in part shade or filtered sun in moist well-drained humus-rich soil. Heuchera villosa is heat and humidity tolerant, one of the largest alumroots and is the latest to bloom. It is moderately drought tolerant, but scorching and general plant decline may occur if soil totally dries out.
The two subspecies are Heuchera villosa var. macrorhiza, found mainly west of the Appalachian mountains in neutral or alkaline soil, and the more common Heuchera villosa var. villosa, found in acidic soils in the Appalachians and eastward.
The genus name Heuchera is in honor of the 18th-century German physician, botanist, and medicinal plant expert Johann von Heucher. Villosa means covered with soft hairs.
Learn more about Heuchera spp.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Autumn Bride'
Fuzzy green leaves, white flowers, requires part to full shade - Brownies
Dark green foliage with pale, purplish-brown underside. Not for full sun - Carmel
Apricot new growth fades to soft amber. Fall color is salmon red
- 'Autumn Bride'
- 'Autumn Bride', Brownies, Carmel
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Autumn Bride'
Fuzzy green leaves, white flowers, requires part to full shade - Brownies
Dark green foliage with pale, purplish-brown underside. Not for full sun - Carmel
Apricot new growth fades to soft amber. Fall color is salmon red
- 'Autumn Bride'
- 'Autumn Bride', Brownies, Carmel
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Heuchera
- Species:
- villosa
- Family:
- Saxifragaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern United States - native from New York to northern Georgia
- Distribution:
- Greatest distribution is in West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the genus Heuchera support the specialized bee: Colletes aestivalis. Tannin in the foliage makes it unappetizing to deer and rabbits. Bees and other pollinators enjoy the nectar from the flowers.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 2 ft. 8 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4b, 4a, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- In North Carolina, the fruits are available from July to November.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Description:
- Small flowers have prominent sepals, inconspicuous petals and extended pistils and stamens. The petioles and flowering stems are hairy. In North Carolina, the flowers are available from June to October.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Velvety
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Palmatifid
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Basal leaves are bronze or purple and have 5-9 sharp lobes and are often compared to maple. They are 2-4.5 inches, long-stalked and have hairy stems.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Slope/Bank
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Heat
- Humidity
- Rabbits
