14 named cultivars

perennialN. America Native

Coral Bells

The Story

Plant Bio

Heuchera americana, American alumroot, is a clumping evergreen perennial native to eastern and central North America from Ontario southward. It forms a low mound of long-stalked heart-shaped leaves, shallowly lobed and toothed, often marbled with silver or bronze. Airy panicles of small greenish-cream bells rise a foot or more above the foliage in late spring.

The foliage is the point and it holds through winter, which is why this species is the parent of most modern heucheras — the garden varieties with lime, peach and burgundy leaves trace back to it. Unlike many of those hybrids it tolerates real heat and humidity, and it grows in dry shade where little else keeps its colour.

Uses & Benefits:

Marbled evergreen foliage all year, with airy cream flower panicles in late spring.

Holds colour in dry shade and copes with heat and humidity better than most hybrid heucheras.

Supports the specialist bee Colletes aestivalis as well as general pollinators.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

24 inches

Width

18 inches

Light

Partial Sun, Shade

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Water

Low to moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Eastern and central North America

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in spring or autumn in humus-rich, well-drained soil.
Choose dappled or partial shade; some sun is tolerated.
Set the crown at soil level, never buried.
Water through the first season; it is drought-tolerant after.
Mulch lightly, keeping mulch off the crown.
Divide every three or four years when clumps heave upward.

Pro Tip

Replant it deeper every few years — heucheras push themselves out of the ground as the woody crown lengthens, and lifting and resetting them is the standard fix.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant in well-drained soil with good humus 🌱
Divide every three or four years ✂️
Use it for winter foliage in shade 🍂
Reset heaved crowns deeper 🪴

Don't

Plant in heavy wet soil; the crown rots ❌
Bury the crown when planting ❌
Let it sit in winter wet ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Divide
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Evergreen groundcover in dry shadeWoodland-edge borderContainer and small-space planting

Companion Plants

Christmas Fern Foamflower Wild Ginger Woodland Phlox Golden Ragwort

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Coral Bells questions

What zones can Coral Bells grow in?

Coral Bells is hardy in USDA Zones 4–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Coral Bells deer resistant?

Yes — Coral Bells is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Coral Bells bloom?

Coral Bells typically blooms in late spring to summer through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Coral Bells need full sun?

Coral Bells does best in part shade.

Is Coral Bells drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Coral Bells handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.